FOUR labor measures developed during the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have received the backing of the region’s labor ministers and will be submitted to Asean leaders in November, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Friday.
The measures cover labor market and social resilience, fair and ethical recruitment, occupational safety and health in the informal sector, and labor inspection in the fishing industry.
The documents were endorsed during the 29th Asean Labor Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok, where Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino led the Philippine delegation.
The measures seek to strengthen regional cooperation on worker protection, decent work and labor systems amid changes in working conditions and labor markets.
DOLE said the initiatives also aim to promote fair recruitment and address safety and labor-standard concerns in sectors where workers face greater risks.
The four documents will be submitted to the 49th Asean Summit in November for adoption and notation by Asean leaders.
Tolentino separately sought the support of the Asean Secretariat in turning the regional commitments into concrete programs.
During a meeting on Aug. 27 with Asean Secretariat Deputy Secretary-General for the Asean Socio-Cultural Community H.E. San Lwin, Tolentino discussed regional activities involving green jobs, skills training and labor inspection, DOLE said.
The two also discussed measures concerning workers in the platform economy.
DOLE said the Philippines reiterated its proposal to develop regional guidelines for platform workers and discussed cooperation related to the ratification of International Labor Organization Convention 193.
The meeting also covered preparations for workers facing changes brought by digitalization and the shift toward green jobs, including the strengthening of skills and training programs.
The Philippines is also preparing to host the 2026 Asean Green Jobs Forum in Manila.
The country will be the presiding country of the 115th International Labor Conference in 2027.
The Philippines and the Asean Secretariat also discussed two Asean milestones to be marked in 2027: the 20th anniversary of the Cebu Declaration and the 10th anniversary of the Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.
Both agreements were adopted in the Philippines.
DOLE said the Asean secretariat proposed a high-level forum for the two anniversaries. Tolentino welcomed the proposal and said he would take it up with the Department of Migrant Workers.
Thailand has assumed the chairmanship of the Asean Labor Ministers’ Meeting, Senior Labor Officials Meeting and SLOM Working Group for 2026 to 2028, with Timor-Leste as vice chairman.
The four Philippine-developed measures will be presented at the Asean Summit for consideration by the region’s leaders.
