After two years under a rigorous global labor compliance review, the Philippines has taken a leading role in shaping international standards for the fast-growing platform economy, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the Philippines’s removal from the intensive scrutiny of a key international labor body reflects significant progress in upholding workers’ freedom of association amid earlier concerns involving union harassment.

During the 113th International Labor Conference in Geneva, Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio Jr., who led the Philippine delegation, was elected chair of the newly formed Committee on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, which will craft global policies for gig and platform-based labor.

“The rapid growth of the platform economy, accelerated by the pandemic, calls for international cooperation to balance innovation with adequate protections for workers in nontraditional employment,” Bitonio said.

The committee will convene from Jun. 2 to 12 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with its report due on Jun. 13.

DOLE emphasized that the Philippines’ clearance from supervisory review affirms its improved compliance with core labor conventions, particularly on freedom of association — a major concern in previous years.

The development marks a shift in the country’s global labor standing, from being under international review to playing a central role in shaping labor governance in the digital economy.