DOLE pushes for add’l protection for workers

MANILA, Philippines – With the projected increase in trade and investment activities among Asia – Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members countries, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is pushing for additional social protection for Filipino professionals and skilled workers.

According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, there is a need to enhance government policies to secure and protect employment of Filipino professionals and skilled workers.

“As we sum up the vital APEC meetings that took place in 2015 and look forward to another significant and fruitful edition in 2016, it is clearly important to secure our human resources who will be actively taking part in the mobility of professionals and skilled workers in the region,” Baldoz said.

Social protection, Baldoz said,  is integral to building sustainable and inclusive economies by reducing poverty, improving social inclusivity and stability and enhancing human capital through investments in education, income support, as well as health and social services.

As head of the Philippines’ APEC Human Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG) Baldoz said she would work on enhancing workers’ social protection.

Baldoz added that due to economic integration,  APEC economies are actively pursuing intensified trade and investments, requiring talents and skills from migrant workers within the region.

However, she said, workers usually find themselves in vulnerable situations.

Recently, Baldoz said, the Philippines in partnership with Chinese Taipei, mounted a seminar on facilitating human resource mobility by enhancing social protection. The move was supported by seven APEC member countries.

Baldoz said the successful holding of the seminar paved the way for the inclusion of social protection for mobile workers under the Social Protection Framework presented at the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster’s Assessment Based National Dialogue (ABND).

According to Baldoz, she has tasked the DOLE’s Institute for Labor Studies to provide more comprehensive and innovative research on bilateral agreements and social security agreements within the APEC region.

She has also ordered the Employees’ Compensation Commission to work on the establishment of a database or portal of social security provisions within the agreements among APEC economies.

“This will be conducted in close coordination with the Social Security System and the Philippine Health Corp.,” Baldoz said.