DOLE, tripartite partners discuss key labor issues in trade, services
Representatives of the government, labor groups, and employer sector convened to discuss pressing labor and employment policy issues in the trade and services industry.
Labor Secretary and National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) Chair Bienvenido Laguesma presided over the Council’s first meeting year, which focused on the proposed amendments of the draft IRR of the Service Charge Law or Republic Act 11360, the role of the tripartite body in the Global Coalition for Social Justice, and the labor provisions of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), among others.
On finalizing the provisions of the IRR on the Service Charge Law, Bureau of Working Conditions Director Alvin B. Curada presented the latest version of the document incorporating the recommendations from the labor and employer groups to clearly define the covered employees and the extent of their entitlement to the pooled service charges.
The Service Charge Law provides for the full and equal distribution of all service charges collected by an establishment to all its covered workers.
Having received contrasting views on the issues, the Council agreed to allow DOLE, as NTIPC Chair and Secretariat, to review and finalize the document.
“The Department will continue to deliberate and come up with a resolution on this item, considering the positions of both the employers and the workers,” the labor chief assured.
DOLE seeks to promote good labor-management relations and maintain the country’s industrial peace through the principles of tripartism and social dialogue.
Labor Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio Jr. also reported during the meeting DOLE’s participation in the global call to advance global social justice, decent work, and inclusive growth as the country accepted the International Labour Organization’s invitation to become one of its first 100 partners in the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
The labor executive also invited Council members to participate in this ILO-led initiative, which will further intensify the call for more decent, fair, productive, and freely chosen employment opportunities.
Secretary Laguesma earlier said that upholding social justice is also among the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 goals and is a major priority of the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (LEP) 2023-2028.
The sectoral representatives also urged the government to ensure that labor provisions of multilateral trade initiatives, such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, recognize domestic labor laws and regulations to ensure non-duplication of processes and promote a more enabling labor and business environment in the country.
To improve function delivery and streamline processes, the NTIPC is also set to adopt a restructuring plan that will remove all outdated Council committees and improve consensus mechanisms.
