Tulfo takes part in Geneva labor conference
Published Jun 17, 2023 07:18 am
Senator Raffy Tulfo
Senator Raffy Tulfo represented the Asia Pacific Group (ASPAG) during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland last June 16. Tulfo, who delivered a statement in behalf of ASPAG, relayed the group’s support for the Resolution and Conclusions of the Recurrent Discussion Committee on Labour Protection. He noted that ASPAG appreciates the efforts of other governments and groups to discuss the challenges and opportunities in promoting labour protection. For one, Tulfo said ASPAG supports the appropriate classification of workers and the need to address the persistent lack of protection from discrimination faced by people in specific occupations, sectors, and work arrangements. “ASPAG believes that the core of decent work is inclusive, adequate, and effective labour protection. Inclusive labour protection takes into consideration the diversity of the world of work, the various forms of contractual arrangements, and the challenges and opportunities relating to the digital transformation of work such as teleworking or platform work, and other forms of informal work,” he noted. Tulfo pointed out that the Asia-Pacific region is home to over 4.6 billion people or more or less 60 percent of the world’s population, and more than 60 percent of the global labour force comes from ASPAG. However, it has the highest levels of wealth inequality in the world, high levels of income inequality, and inequality of opportunities. Tulfo, likewise, said that ASPAG believes that bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation between and among countries of origin, transit , and destination can guarantee migrant workers’ rights, wage protection, access to relevant labour protection information, access to justice, and access dispute settlement, among others. “Our region also deploys 40 percent of the world’s migrant workers. The protection of these workers especially those in vulnerable situations such as domestic workers, is crucial to us,” he stated. The International Labour Organization (ILO) accepted Tulfo’s proposed amendment to include migrant workers' right to have “access to relevant labour protection informations” in the Conclusions of the Committee on Labour Protection. Moreover, Tulfo said ASPAG supports the development of policies and regulations that help promote Occupational, Safety and Health strategies for zero work-related deaths and severe work-related injuries or illnesses, including access to relevant social security benefits. He said ASPAG expressed its support for the formation of the Global Coalition for Social Justice through decent work because it holds promise for the region. “As we have often said as a region, we contribute much to the global wealth; we deserve a fair share from it,’’ he added.