One year shy of three decades of existence, the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) has shown that it has kept faith with its function in terms of producing researches and other knowledge products on labor and employment to aid, not only the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the crafting of its policies, but also labor policymakers, planners, advocates and workers.

The ILS celebrated its 29th year anniversary on July 25, 2016. It was established in 1987, by virtue of Executive Order No. 251 issued by then President Corazon C. Aquino in response to the growing need of the DOLE for more comprehensive and innovative research to back up its policy recommendations. Headed by an Executive Director and assisted by a Deputy Executive Director, ILS became the policy research and advocacy arm of the DOLE as articulated in Section 3 of Executive Order No. 251. The ILS has since aided in DOLE’s crafting of national labor and employment plans and policies through its research undertakings, projects and initiatives.

As a research institute, the ILS has undertaken responsive and pro-active policy research initiatives that are anchored on the DOLE’s three strategic themes: employment and manpower development; labor relations; and labor standards and social protection.

To date, the Institute has produced a total of 124 researches dating back to the year 2004.

The ILS counts among its milestone accomplishments its contribution to the eventual creation of  Republic Act 10771, or the “Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016” signed by President Benigno Aquino III on April 29, 2016,  the law which promotes the creation of “green jobs” or that which contribute to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment, in the agriculture, industry or services sector, and decent jobs that are productive, that respect the rights of workers, deliver fair income, provide security in workplace and social protection for families, and promote social dialogue. The ILS pioneered researches and policy discussion on green jobs in the Philippines in 2008 led by its former Executive Director Cynthia Cruz.

For soft copies of ILS researches and publications, please go to www.ils.dole.gov.ph