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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Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Labor Market The nascent Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years has caused transformative shifts in the world of work, altering the way tasks are performed and redefining job roles to keep up with the demands of the 21st century. The Philippines is poised to benefit from AI-driven solutions by gaining PHP 2.6 trillion annually by 2030.1 The adoption of AIpowered systems, tools, and applications increasingly used to take advantage of economic gains. However, its immediate impact in the Philippine context is still underresearched. Through a mixed-method approach, the research aimed to determine the preparedness and responses of IT-BPM, banking and finance, and... |
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The interconnections between climate change, environmental issues, and labor conditions are especially pronounced in the Philippines. According to the 2023 World Risk Index,1 the country is the most disaster-prone in the world due to its geographical location. Approximately 60 percent of its land area is classified as “hazard-exposed,” and 74 percent of its population is vulnerable to the effects of these hazards (International Monetary Fund, 2023). A separate study by the World Bank (2021) ranks Metropolitan Manila (Metro Manila) as one of the most vulnerable cities globally, with an estimated 3.4 million residents at risk of flooding. More recently, in April and May... |
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This study examined the practice of just transition in the blue economy initiatives in the Philippines, specifically in the coastal accommodation sector, using a mixed-methods case study research design. Following the ILO Just Transition Guidelines, the researchers analyzed the sustainability transition of selected coastal accommodations that were awarded under the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard and ANAHAW Sustainable Tourism Certification. The study looked at the decarbonization and climate adaptation strategies of these establishments, green skills development, decent work outcomes, stakeholder experiences, and the enabling factors for transitioning... |
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This research examined free trade agreements (FTAs) the Philippines entered into, namely (1) the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA), (2) the European Free Trade Association Agreement (EFTA), and (3) the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) to identify the general considerations, parameters, and elements which are vital in trade negotiations as these will ensure the inclusion of labor provisions in free trade agreements. Using a quantitative-qualitative study design and a convergent parallel analysis approach, the researchers analyzed historical data, including foreign direct investment, real wage, labor force... |
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Benchmarking of Company Practices in Labor Standards Compliance and Labor-Management Relations The Philippine government promotes a competitive business climate with the goal to make the country a prime investment destination in Southeast Asia. With the growing global demand to incorporate human rights due diligence in business operations, fostering an enabling environment based on sound industrial, social, and labor policies are some strategies to attract more investment. To better understand how enforcing labor laws to promote decent work affect investments in the country, the study benchmarked practices of both exporting-local and investing-multinational companies in terms of their labor standards compliance and labor-management relations. The... |
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The research seeks to examine how labor management councils/committees (LMC) and grievance machineries (GM) contribute to the attainment of industrial peace by conducting a survey, facilitating key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Using a triangulation approach in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, the study found that LMCs and GMs in general contributed to industrial peace by helping decrease the number of cases of the DOLE. LMCs have a more positive perception compared to GMs which may be attributable to how GMs are structured as a mechanism where a labor issue is already present. The study established the positive linkage... |
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Mental Health at Work: Determinants of a Safe and Healthy Workplace Mental health plays a crucial role in workers’ well-being, job performance, and labor productivity, the same way physical health does. Occupational safety and health standards often address this by implementing stress management programs, mental health services, and workplace policies. However, there is a dearth of information relative to the effective occupational structure, support mechanisms, compensation benefits, and public advocacy among existing policies on workplace mental health. Hence, this research aimed to understand the factors of workplace psychological hazards to workers’ mental health by documenting work stressors or risk factors and... |
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The Social Amelioration Program (SAP) was institutionalized with the passage of Republic Act No. 6982, otherwise known as the Sugar Amelioration Act of 1991. SAP is a production sharing scheme that aims to improve the social and economic conditions of sugar workers and their families. While SAP was intended to augment the income and help the sugar workers enjoy a decent living, there are structural inequalities that are deeply embedded in the sugarcane industry which cause the transmission of inter-generational poverty. There are sugar workers that have remained marginalized owing to the migratory nature of their work, their lack of access to social protection... |
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Green Jobs and Renewable Energy: A Sectoral Human Resource Development Roadmap The renewable energy sector emerges as a key economic growth sector, with wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass subsectors promising substantial employment opportunities amid the country’s green economy shift. This study examines the human resource development situation and decent work conditions in the Philippines' renewable energy sector, aiming to create a roadmap for green jobs. Based on the surveys conducted with respondents composed of 32 renewable energy companies with 500 workers, the research revealed a growing demand for skilled workers, particularly in operations, maintenance, and project development. However, it also identified... |