As Filipinos commemorate Labor Day, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved Executive Order (EO) No. 23 which will strengthen inter-agency coordination and facilitate the resolution of labor disputes.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (File photo)

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed EO 23 dated April 30, 2023, a day before Filipinos marked the 121st Labor Day on May 1.

The order, which forms the  Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers, reinforces and protects the freedom of association and the right to organize workers.

It noted concerns of various groups on the Philippines’ implementation of ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention No. 87, “in view of reported incidents of acts of violence, extra-judicial killings, harassment, suppression of trade union rights and red-tagging allegedly perpetrated by State agents, targeting in particular, certain trade unions and workers’ organizations.”

“At the 108th session of the International Labor Conference (ILC) in June 2019, a high-level tripartite mission (HLTM) was created to inquire into the aforementioned reported incidents in the purpose of assisting the Philippine government in taking immediate and effective action on the following specific areas:  (i) measures to prevent violence in relation to the exercise of legitimate activities by workers’ organizations; (ii) investigation of allegations of violence against members of workers’ organizations with a view of establishing the facts, determining culpability and punishing the perpetrators; (iii) operationalization of monitoring bodies; and (iv) measures to ensure that all workers, without distinction, are able to form and join organizations of their choosing, in accordance to ILO Convention No. 87,” the EO added.

The Committee will be chaired by the Executive Secretary while the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment will be its vice chair.

The members of the Inter-Agency panel will be the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of National Defense, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Security Council, and the Philippine National Police.

“When necessary, the Inter-Agency Committee may request the attendance or participation of other relevant agencies, such as the Civil Service Commission and the Commission of Human Rights,” the EO stated.

The Inter-Agency Committee shall consolidate and evaluate all comprehensive reports, which contain findings and recommendations by concerned agencies to be submitted to the President. It is also tasked to develop a roadmap containing the priority areas of action, tangible deliverables, clear responsibilities, and appropriate timeframes, consistent with the recommendations of the HLTM.

“The roadmap shall be subject to regular review and should consider the consolidated reports and recommendations from the concerned agencies and inputs from other relevant stakeholders,” the EO stated.

“Each of the concerned agencies shall designate a focal unit or office within the agency, to be headed by an official with a rank not lower than that of an Undersecretary, which shall monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation and progress of agency action plans, initiatives relating to freedom of association and rights to organize and to collective bargaining.” it furthered.

In a speech on April 30, President Marcos assured Filipino workers that promoting their welfare remains his administration's top priority.