Manila - The Institute for Labor Studies wrapped up its Resilience in Stride 2021 webinar series with its finale episode titled, “ORGANIZING IN THE INFORMAL ECONOMY: MOVING TOWARDS POST COVID-19 SUSTAINABILITY,” last December 15 via Zoom and was streamed live via the official ILS Facebook page.

This webinar provided a venue to discuss the current landscape of labor organization in the Philippines and the increasing relevance of organizing labor in the informal economy through social and solidarity economy approach.

The growing number of women workers in the informal economy presented a greater challenge in closing gender gaps and achieving inclusive development. While the Philippines has yet to better capture the informal economy, with the conceptual and operational framework still to be nationally institutionalized, it is seen as vital to the socioeconomic development across societies.

The webinar highlighted the scope and protective coverage of labor organizing in the Philippines, as well as the strategies and policies areas that will work for and with the informal economy.

Conceptualized by the Institute’s Gender and Development (GAD) Committee headed by Ms. Arianne Ishreen C. Bucar under the Labor and Social Relations Research Division (LSSRD), the event was hosted by Labor and Employment Officers Franchesca Rose S. Castillo and Malorie O. Joy Mones. ILS Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba delivered the Opening Remarks, which set the stage for the rest of the presentations.

The first presenter was Atty. Joharic Maligaya from the Bureau of Labor Relations who presented on the topic titled, “Contemporary landscape on Philippine labor organizations.” Here, Atty. Maligaya gave an overview of labor organizations in the Philippines. He also discussed the government’s ongoing initiatives and programs on organizing labor in the informal economy workers.

Second presentation was delivered by Dr. Benjamin R. Quinoñes, PhD, Head of the Asian Solidarity Economy Council. His presentation titled, “Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) as a Pathway of Organizing and Advancing Decent Work in the Informal Economy,” explained in great detail the SSE approach as a strategy and pathway for collective actions and in the advancement of decent work in the informal economy. His presentation likewise involved doable examples of SSE, particularly those being practiced by neighboring ASEAN countries, which demonstrate ways to make SSE gender responsive.

The open forum was facilitated by Ms. Mones and Ms. Castillo where online comments and questions from the audience were addressed by both resource persons. ILS Deputy Executive Director Mary Grace L. Riguer-Teodosio delivered the closing remarks.

You may view this episode online via this link: Organizing the Informal Economy Webinar