Tripartite panel prepares to steer FOA, anti–child labor project in PH

Quezon City, Philippines — The tripartite panel – composed of representatives from government agencies, employers groups, and workers’ organizations – convened the first Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting of the “Strengthening Freedom of Association and Action against Child Labor (FOA-CL) project” in Quezon City on May 15, 2025.

The FOA-CL project is supported by the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through its Labor Programme.

In the labor context, the tripartite partners of the project include the government, the employers’ sector and labor groups.

Thus, the PAC is co-chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), the PAC includes representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev), the workers’ groups, and the employers’ sectors.

Broadly, the project is designed to enhance the promotion and enforcement of Philippine labor laws in alignment with international labor standards, focusing on fundamental principles and rights at work, particularly freedom of association (FOA) and addressing child labor (CL) within trade sectors.

Ultimately, the project aims to:

Promote the Tripartite FOA Roadmap, ensuring the right to organize in accordance with the 2023 High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) recommendations.

Support the Philippine Programme Against Child Labour in its efforts to remove children from child labor and ensure their continued education.

PAC’s function, responsibilities

Mainly, the PAC serves as the central mechanism providing leadership and strategic direction for the project. It guides decisions on resource allocation, endorses the annual work plan, and monitors the project’s progress toward its intended outcomes.

It also offers a platform for dialogue, coordination, communication, and advocacy among stakeholders, allowing for project adjustments based on evolving priorities.

Moreover, the PAC is responsible for:

Reviewing and adopting, or modifying as needed, its terms of reference,

Overseeing project coordination, management, and implementation,

Providing strategic guidance for the work plan implementation, ensuring alignment with evolving priorities and contexts to achieve project objectives,

Facilitating synergy and complementarity with relevant programs and projects implemented by social partners, and

Championing the project and facilitating outreach to a broad range of stakeholders.

Terms of reference (TOR)

Aside from delineating the functions and responsibilities of the PAC members, the TOR also specifies the institutional arrangements, accountability mechanisms, and the schedule for meetings.

FOA-CL project work plan

The FOA-CL-Philippines project work plan serves as a roadmap for the project’s activities and objectives. Its primary goal is to improve the enforcement of Philippine labor laws, ensuring they meet international standards, particularly concerning workers’ rights and the elimination of child labor.

Specifically, the project will support the development and implementation of a Tripartite Freedom of Association (FOA) Roadmap to promote workers’ right to organize, as recommended by the 2023 High-Level Tripartite Mission.

Simultaneously, it will work to strengthen the Philippine Programme Against Child Labour by focusing on removing children from child labor and supporting their education.

FOA-CL is a five-year project that will also examine gender-specific barriers in labor rights and freedom of association. It will consider the distinct vulnerabilities of children in child labor and draw on the priorities identified in the women workers’ agenda.

By supporting the elimination of child labor, the project reinforces national efforts to keep children in school and out of hazardous work.

Project relevance

The FOA-CL is timely and relevant given the recent recommendations of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards’ High-Level Tripartite Mission to the Philippines.

Among the recommendations are the creation of a Presidential Commission, a truth commission, a strengthened National Industrial Peace Council monitoring body, and reforms that would make it easier to form unions and perform their functions, including engaging in collective bargaining and to conduct lawful strikes and collective action.

With tripartite collaboration and a clear strategic direction, the FOA–CL project is poised to make a significant contribution towards building a society where all Filipino workers can enjoy their fundamental rights and children are protected from exploitation.

By International Labour Organization CO-Manila

ASEAN's New Era: PBBM Signs "2045 Vision" to Forge Economic Powerhouse, People-Centered Future

In photo: ASEAN member-states at the signing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future during the 46th ASEAN Summit

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., accompanied by Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque, signed on May 26 the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. This pivotal declaration charts the region’s unified direction over the next two decades, reflecting a renewed commitment to fostering a more resilient, forward-looking, and people-first Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN Community Vision 2045 emphasized the development of a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered region, equipped to navigate digital disruption, climate change, demographic shifts, and evolving geopolitical realities. This comprehensive roadmap builds upon previous ASEAN blueprints, adapting to the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly complex global environment.

Central to the declaration is the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030. This five-year economic blueprint is designed to position ASEAN as the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030.

Supported by over 190 concrete measures, the plan outlines six strategic goals. These include: (i) an Action-Oriented Community, (ii) a Sustainable Community, (iii) an Enterprising, Bold, and Innovative Community, (iv) an Adaptable and Proactive Community, (v) a Nimble and Resilient Community, and (vi) an Inclusive, Participatory, and Collaborative Community.

Developed through an inclusive and region-wide consultative process, the AEC Strategic Plan drew insights from all AEC sectoral bodies and was enriched by inputs from the ASEAN Community’s political-security and socio-cultural pillars. The plan captures the perspectives of 315 stakeholders, from business, academia, civil society, parliaments, and ASEAN’s external partners, who participated in a series of dialogues and technical consultations.

The Plan also echoes the public sentiment, with a comprehensive survey of 7,568 from citizens across ASEAN member-states and Timor-Leste. This is to ensure that the aspirations and concerns of the ordinary Southeast Asians are properly taken into account in shaping the region's economic path

For the Philippines, the ASEAN Vision 2045 presents greater opportunities for Filipino businesses, MSMEs, and workers. These include improved market access, enhanced digital trade facilitation, and greater support for sustainable and creative industries.  Consumers are also set to benefit from stronger product standards, broader access to goods and services, and enhanced regional consumer protection, among others.

As the incoming ASEAN Chair in 2026, the Philippines will play a leading role in spearheading the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The chairship carries both a significant responsibility and a unique opportunity to influence regional priorities, champion inclusive growth, and ensure ASEAN’s progress directly benefits the lives of everyday people, especially in communities that need it most.

The Philippines stands ready to help turn this bold vision into reality, building a region that grows together, competes globally, and leaves no one behind.  

The full ASEAN Community Vision 2045 is available here