On June 4, 2018, the Memorandum of Cooperation between Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)-Philippines and the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) for the ILS Gender and Development research on women in trade unions was signed at the FES office in Discovery Centre, Ortigas, Pasig City.

FES-Philippines was represented by Resident Representative Johannes Kadura while ILS was represented by Acting Deputy Executive Director Maria Isabel Artajo. The research “Study on Women and Gender Mainstreaming in Labor Unions in Philippine Key Services Subsectors” was co-funded by FES for P240,000.

This proposed study seeks to contribute both to the scholarship and to the policy development process involving the union movement in the country. Findings will serve as inputs for promoting women’s participation in unions (i.e. both union federations and local unions), and for leveraging the unions’ gender mainstreaming experiences towards making the policy environment more gender-responsive.

The work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in the Philippines started in 1964, helping in the promotion of democracy and the strengthening of social and ecological dimensions of economic development through education, research, political dialogue, and international cooperation. The FES Philippine Office cooperates with national and local government institutions, trade unions, political and social movements, non-government organizations

The Institute for Labor Studies is the policy and research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment. For more information about ILS products and services, please visit: http//ils.dole.gov.ph or call Advocacy and Publication Division at Tel. No. 527-3590