Executive Director Cynthia Rodis-Cruz of the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) is the new Director of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Labor Center in Kaohshiung City, Taiwan and assumed the post on 25 November 2014.

Rodis-Cruz headed ILS for 9 years starting in November 2005. ILS is the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

For ILS, Rodis-Cruz produced researches on the four pillars of decent work: employment, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue. Examples of these researches include: “Green Jobs are Decent Work;” “The Regulatory Impact Assessment Adoption Determinants”; “Mainstreaming Employment and Decent Work in the National Agenda”; “Examining Health Promoting Initiatives in Workplaces”; and “Project Angel Tree: Value Networks as a Strategy Toward Improving Outcomes for Child Laborers and Their Families.” The researches are acessible through ILS’ website (http://ils.dole.gov.ph/).

“ILS has always been home for me and I consider its officers and staff as part of my family. I will surely miss them as I embark on a new journey that entails a new role and a different set of challenges,” said Rodis-Cruz.

There are approximately 41,492 overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Taiwan based on Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data. Rodis-Cruz new mandate includes employment promotion, workers protection, community networking, and issuance of overseas employment certificate.

The MECO, exercising delegated functions, is the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan.  It was established in 1975 and is organized as a non-profit and non-stock private corporation under Philippine law.

MECO promotes trade, investments, tourism, labor, scientific and cultural cooperation with Taiwan.  The MECO provides assistance to Filipinos in Taiwan and provides visas, legal and consular services.  The MECO coordinates with the Philippine government agencies and the private sector to fulfill this mandate .

The MECO) Labor Center where Rodis-Cruz is assigned is located at 2/F Metrobank Building, No. 146 Suwei 2nd Road, Kaohshiung City, Taiwan.

(For more information on this press release, please contact Mr. Gian Ines of the Advocacy and Publications Division, Institute for Labor Studies, Telephone Nos. 527-3490/527-3447)