The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) have signed an agreement to strengthen the collective bargaining capabilities of employees and management in electric cooperatives.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda signed the agreement on Tuesday, Aug. 13, in Quezon City.
Under the agreement, the DOLE and NEA will conduct a Joint Capacity Building Program to train union members and management in handling collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensuring the long-term viability of electric cooperatives.
The DOLE will be responsible for developing the program's content, design, and methods, providing experts and resources, and offering technical support for the preparation and implementation of CBAs.
The joint initiative is also part of DOLE’s broader labor education program.
“Effective collective bargaining requires the right skills and knowledge to negotiate fairly, set clear policies, and foster unity, which strengthens cooperatives and boosts economic growth,” Laguesma said.
The DOLE chief highlighted that the collaboration upholds workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, as guaranteed by national and international laws.
The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to worker rights by ratifying ILO Convention 87 in 1953, which guarantees freedom of association, followed by ILO Convention 98, which upholds collective bargaining rights.
Meanwhile, Almeda said the NEA aims to empower cooperative employees to negotiate fair employment terms, thereby improving service delivery to consumers.