MANILA - The Institute for Labor Studies successfully hosted the 13th DOLE Research Conference on October 15-16, 2024, at Century Park Hotel, Manila. With the theme “Bridging Synergies and Sustainability for a Future-Ready Filipino Workforce,” the conference highlighted the importance of partnerships in creating a resilient labor market capable of withstanding future challenges and uncertainties.
The conference participants included representatives from government agencies, tripartite partners, research institutions, academe, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders, both in person and online.
In his keynote message, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary for Labor Relations, Policy, and International Affairs, and Regional Operations Cluster Atty. Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. highlighted the pivotal role of researchers in shaping labor policies. "Researchers are expected to use information with care and discretion and to cultivate the habit of acknowledging and building on others' ideas. Armed with the data that you have as a researcher—a researcher must educate and influence. We have to ensure that what we write, what we produce, is something that reaches the table of decision-makers and policymakers,” the Undersecretary stated.
ILS Executive Director III Jeanette T. Damo warmly welcomed participants and guests, expressing her gratitude to research partners and scholars and researchers. “It is our collective passion for advancing labor policy and your tireless efforts that make this conference—and the positive change it sparks—not only possible but impactful,” Executive Director III Damo said.
Researchers and scholars from the ILS, the International Labour Organization, the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), and National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), and the Manila Observatory presented their studies during the two-day conference.
DOLE Assistant Secretary for Labor Relations, Policy, and International Affairs, and Regional Operations Cluster, Atty. Lennard Constantine C. Serrano, delivered the closing remarks, commending the conference for fostering meaningful dialogue on pressing labor and employment issues. "These past two days, the research presentations fostered fruitful and engaging discussions about crucial labor and employment issues. Findings of these studies shall serve as inputs in the policymaking and program development and enhancement mandates of the Department with the end goal of creating a resilient and future-ready workforce,” Assistant Secretary Serrano emphasized.
A Platform for Inclusive and Progressive Dialogue
Preceding the main conference, the 2024 ILS Working Papers underwent rigorous tripartite validation forums from September 30 to October 7, 2024. These forums brought together key stakeholders — including DOLE clients, tripartite representatives, and Regional Tripartite Wage Boards — to validate data from and exchange insights on, the working papers for their further improvement before public presentation and dissemination.
The 2024 ILS Working Papers will be published by the end of December 2024.
Since 2012, the research conference has served as a platform for DOLE researchers and other scholars to present studies on key labor issues to policymakers, government program managers, and tripartite partners toward enabling evidence-based policy and decision-making processes in promoting decent work in the country.
The two-day 13th DOLE Research Conference was live-streamed and can be viewed through https://www.facebook.com/ilsdoleofficial.
###