29The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold the First Research Conference on Decent Work at the DOLE Ople Hall in Intramuros on 28 November.

Led by its Inter-Agency Committee on Research Matters, the research conference provides a forum for DOLE’s attached agencies, bureaus and services for the discussion and presentation of research work on key areas of the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016.

“This conference provides veteran and neophyte labor and employment researchers within the Department the opportunity to present initial findings of pioneer researches on the important areas of decent work to their peers and to key policy makers and program managers of the Department," said Executive Director Cynthia Cruz of the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS).

The researches tackle the four pillars of decent work, namely, employment, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.

The ILS, the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment, is the lead agency of the DOLE Inter-Agency Committee on Research Matters.

“The DOLE-Inter Agency Committee on Research Matters is dedicated to developing research that supports inclusive growth through decent and productive employment and is responsive to operations on the ground and the needs of Filipino workers,” said Cruz

Also joining the Conference are visiting academics from the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP-SOLAIR). Invited as visiting panelists at the conference sessions are UP-SOLAIR’s Dean Jonathan Sale, Professor Emily Cabegin, and Professor Rene E. Ofreneo who will share their insights for further advancement of researches presented.

“We hope through this conference we can provide a regular exchange of ideas on informed alternative frameworks and solutions to policy makers and program managers at the Department on key labor and employment issues. Unlike academic research, our work as government researchers caters to a specific clientele and for a definite purpose," emphasized Cruz.

"While providing more informed decisions for our policy makers and program managers are in mind when we do our research, we are also mandated to present our work to our social partners such as employers and workers in the spirit of tripartism,” added Cruz.

Participants to the session include research teams of DOLE’s attached agencies and bureaus. Expected to present at the sessions are research teams from the Institute for Labor Studies, Professional Regulatory Commission, Occupational Safety and Health and the Bureau of Working Conditions.

The ILS is the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment. It was created in July 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 257. Since its creation the Institute has always been at the forefront of labor and employment policy research and advocacy providing strategic policy research for the Department of Labor and Employment.

(For more information on this press release please contact Ms. Linartes M. Viloria, Chief Labor & Employment Officer, Advocacy & Publications Division, Institute for Labor Studies, Telephone Nos.: 5273490 / 5273447)