Working papers are reports that make the case for policy change, through a methodical inquiry into a specific policy or program problem or issue related to labor or employment, systematic observation of the manifestations of the problem, from which conclusions and policy, regulatory, operational or programmatic recommendations are derived. The papers are intended for specific actual or target clients, who have enunciated needs to consider or use the findings and recommendations as evidence of policy or program challenges and as basis for addressing policy problems or enhancing policies or programs related to labor and employment.
ILS working papers constitute a component of the policy development cycle of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the papers forming part of evidence or basis for policy formulation, review or enhancement. Thus, the primary users of ILS research papers are the DOLE bureaus and attached agencies. To ensure that the papers respond to the needs of DOLE for evidence-based policy making, ILS develops an annual research agenda aligned with the policy development needs of its primary users, usually as enunciated through the directives of the Secretary of Labor and Employment or through official request letters of the various DOLE offices. DOLE also uses ILS papers as basis for crafting legislative agenda and legislative proposals.
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Generation Z in the Philippine Labor Force: Profile, Perspectives, and Prospects This study provides an overview of the Gen Z labor force in the Philippines, focusing on their sociodemographic profile, perspectives on work, and career prospects. The study identifies the challenges faced by the Gen Z labor force, including the difficulty of finding decent employment and the appeal of the emerging digital platform economy and freelance work. The study also discusses the skills gap and job-skills mismatch as significant concerns for Gen Zs, which highlights the need for education and training opportunities. The study concludes with policy recommendations for the Philippine government and stakeholders to harness the potentials of the Gen Z labor force and... |
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Labor Market Trends from 2016 to 2022: Prospects and Challenges The employment situation in 2016 emphasized the importance of raising the competitiveness of human capital vis-à-vis economic development and the need for enhanced public-sector initiative that will spur more quality employment generation. To resolve this, the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte endeavored to prioritize investing on the human capital to elevate the employability of the workforce and implement nationwide infrastructure development program to spur employment opportunities across different regions. Despite the generally upward labor and employment trends, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to offset the success of the Duterte... |
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Public Sector Survey on Alternative Work Arrangement During Community Quarantine Public sector plays a vital role in providing basic social services to the population and the government itself. However, the continuous threat of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 poses effects not only on the government’s frontline services but also to the public servants who are likely to be exposed to contracting COVID-19 as most government agencies started going back to traditional work arrangement. The survey intended to provide a descriptive analysis of the implementation alternative work arrangement in government offices during the community quarantine of March 2020 and June 2021. An online survey was disseminated to the members of Public Services... |
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The workplace’s interaction with technology during the pandemic have accelerated trends such as digitization and automation, allowing more flexibility on how the work gets done. From the time- and location-flexibility, the industries now face the – of hybrid work arrangement. Hybrid Work is a flexible work model that supports a blend of in-office and remote working experience. It offers employees the flexibility to choose to work wherever and however they are most productive. Due to its nature, hybrid work relies heavily on the internet and technology, hence the digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of its implementation. The study sought to analyze and... |
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Case Analysis on Determining Employer-Employee Relationship in the Platform Work A case analysis of leading case laws on platform work from Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines was conducted to arrive at a deeper understanding of how platform work is appreciated in each country and subsequently, to arrive at viable policy options to be applied locally. Based on the totality of cases, the study concluded that control and supervision are still the determining factors of the employer-employee relationship, determination of the employer-employee relationship in relation to platform work remains to be decided on a case-to-case... |
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Historical Analysis of DOLE Regulations on Contracting and Subcontracting This research paper serves as one of the Department's many efforts to promote decent work and balance the interests of both labor and management. It acknowledges the necessity of social dialogue and feedback mechanisms, especially in contentious issues such as contracting and subcontracting employment arrangements. For its objectives, it seeks to 1) present a historical and thematic analysis of the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) regulations on contracting to identify key/significant developments; and 2) present an evidence-based analysis of the issues to be addressed in the event of a review or revision of the current policy. Its... |
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Policy Notes on Extending Social Protection for Digital Labor Platform Workers The introduction of digital labor platforms redefined labor exchange effecting significant implications to work processes and organization. While platform workers have garnered greater autonomy and income (whether primary or secondary), majority of them have limited social protection, leaving them vulnerable to economic shocks and life contingencies. Platform worker, as self-employed are covered in a similar way to a salaried worker. However, the level is generally lower which the availability and conditions under which social protection benefits heavily depend on rules set out in national legislations and their effective implementation. Typical challenges in extending... |
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The Philippines' fisheries industry is crucial to the country's economy given the archipelagic nature of the nation. However, it continues to face challenges due to seasonal employment and precarious conditions of workers in the industry, as well as a variety of threats associated with overfishing and climate change. A critical dimension to the seasonality of work is the access to and scope of social protection benefits for the workers and their families. Using the case of workers affected by the implementation of closed fishing season in Zamboanga Peninsula Region, the purpose of this study is to describe the working conditions and determine the available social protection... |