RTIPC VI Endorses ILO Safety Convention No. 155

The Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council of Region VI has passed a resolution endorsing the ratification of the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 155, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Convention of 1981.

The resolution was adopted during the council’s second-quarter meeting held in Iloilo on May 30, 2025, which was attended by Usec. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez, undersecretary for the Workers Welfare and Protection Cluster, along with staff from the Bureau of Working Conditions.

As an ILO member state, the Philippines has consistently supported efforts to promote decent, productive, safe, and healthy work environments.

Through this resolution, the RTIPC formally recommends that the Department of Labor and Employment and other agencies ratify Convention 155, reinforcing the country’s commitment to workplace safety across all sectors.

Benavidez assured council members that the ratification would not impose additional burdens or costs on employers.

“We are not compromising standards, but we are not adding burdens to enterprises or management,” he said.

“Making the workplace a safe haven for workers and employers is a shared responsibility—mas magasto kung may maaksidente than to comply with the requirements,” he added, referencing the convention’s provisions.

Convention No. 155 outlines the duties of both employers and workers in maintaining safe and healthful workplaces.

Article 16 mandates that employers ensure machinery, equipment, and processes under their control are safe and pose no health risks.

It also calls for proper handling of chemical, physical, and biological agents and the provision of adequate protective gear.

Article 19 affirms workers’ rights to receive safety training, be informed about preventive measures, and refuse unsafe work without fear of reprisal until safety is ensured.

A comprehensive gap analysis by regional and national authorities, including the OSH Center, identified key deficiencies in the current OSH system.

These include the lack of sector-specific guidelines for small and medium enterprises, gaps in public sector coverage, exclusion of some government agencies from OSH programs, weak enforcement and reporting mechanisms, and limited data sharing on workplace injuries and illnesses.

To address these issues and align with ILO standards, DOLE issued the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11508 through Department Order No. 252.

The updated rules enhance the country’s OSH framework and reinforce its readiness to ratify Convention No. 155.

“The endorsement of this convention reinforces the council’s commitment to improving OSH standards through inclusive and effective policies,” said Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr., regional director and RTIPC chairperson.

“It is a critical step toward addressing existing gaps in workplace safety,” he added.