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...

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...

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...

Study on the Determinants of Adopting a Hybrid Work Arrangement: The Cases of IT-BPM, Accounting and Finance, and Customer Service Industries

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...

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...

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...

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...

Policy Opportunities on the Social Protection of Seasonal Workers: The Case of Commercial Sardine Fishing and Canning Factory Industry in Zamboanga Peninsula Region

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...

Facilitating Employment Opportunities In The Digital Space: A Study On The Activities And Services Of Digital Labor Market Intermediaries In The Philippines

Businesses that give employers and employees a place to meet are known as Labor Market Intermediaries (LMIs), and they play a critical role in facilitating transactions and creating networks. Digital LMIs (DLMIs) are LMIs that operate purely on a digital platform; this denotes that employer-employee matching in the labor market has transformed to meet the demands posed by 21st-century innovations and technologies (Autor 2001). In the Philippines, DLMIs have become a popular avenue for advertising employment opportunities and searching for job vacancies. Due to the presence of DLMIs in the Philippines and their profound impact on the labor market, the...

Regulatory Impact Assessment Of DOLE Department Order No. 174, Series Of 2017: An Initial Assessment Of Stakeholders’ Insights

The Institute for Labor Studies, as the policy and research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment, is mandated to review the rationale of existing legislation and regulations, including the costs involved in implementation and the benefits derived. The inevitable changes in the labor and employment sector through the years have given rise to the need to address emerging issues and consequences arising from policies and practices. Consequently, this study on Department Order No. 174, series of 2017, assessed the regulatory impact of the said contracting and subcontracting regulation by analyzing the experiences and insights of stakeholders, particularly on the...

Analyzing DOLE’s Labor Inspection Policy: A Case Study Approach

Labor justice in the Philippines is embedded both in Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines and the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Article XIII, Section 3 of the Constitution stipulated the role of the State in protecting the workers with their fundamental rights at work. Meanwhile, Article 128 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, underscores the visitorial and enforcement power of the Secretary of Labor and Employment and his/her duly authorized representative. Moreover, Article 129 of the said Code of the Philippines provided the Secretary of Labor and Employment or his/her duly authorized hearing officer with the power to hear...

Evolving A Governance Framework For Workers In The Gig Economy

Transformations in the world of work pose vast opportunities and adverse impacts on workers and employers. Such transformations largely contributed to the emergence of the gig economy. However, the prevailing institutional mechanisms and regulatory regimes are being challenged to respond effectively to the transformation. Using a qualitative method approach, this study seeks to gain a detailed understanding of gig economy governance and uncover new insights and opinions through key informant interviews and focus group discussions among participants from targeted sectors. Interviews revealed that the employment relationship of gig workers remains a...

An Overview Of Employment Generation Of Select Ecozones In The Philippines

This study utilized a mixed-method research design, incorporating key informant interviews, desk reviews, and data analyses from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and other government agencies. This study looked into the employment generation of ecozones across the years. PEZA statistics indicated a rising employment trend in ecozones over the past decade, peaking in 2022 with 1.862 million workers, nearly double the initial figure of 909,266 in 2012. Demographically, ecozone employment consists of females, Filipino nationals, and regular employees directly hired by locators. Region-wise, the National Capital Region leads with 766,286 jobs...

Toward A Human-Centered Agriculture Modernization: Cases From The Philippines

Agriculture modernization is “the process of transforming the agriculture (and fisheries) sector into one that is dynamic, technologically advanced, and competitive, yet concerned on human resource development, guided by the sound principles of social justice” (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997). Anchored to the Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work in 2018, which called for a “human-centered approach for the future of work,” this research aimed to understand better the role of human capital productivity management towards the improvement of competitiveness in the agriculture sector as well as it aimed to contribute to the realization of...

How Will Waste Workers Benefit? Examining Just Transitions And Circular Economy Paradigms In The Waste Sector

This research examines just transition pathways and decent work outcomes for waste workers amid the circular economy and modernization shifts in the Philippines' waste sector. Using a qualitative study design and framework approach, researchers interviewed local government unit (LGU) officials, materials recovery facility (MRF) managers, and formal and informal waste workers across six sites pioneering zero waste programs and undergoing various sector transitions. Using the International Labour Organization’s Just Transition Guidelines as the analytical framework, findings reveal decent work deficits across employment stability, social protection, skills...

Exploring Innovative Approaches To Address Labor Exploitation In The Fishery Supply Chain: The Case Of The Tuna Industry In The Philippines

The fishing industry is one of the country's main economic drivers, with tuna as one of the Philippines' top fisheries exports. General Santos City, a 1st class, highly urbanized city, is in Region XII, SOCCSKSARGEN, dubbed the country's tuna capital. While the industry is vital to the country's economy, reports show it also suffers from sea and land labor issues. While these labor issues are well-documented, there are specific innovative approaches that the stakeholders from tripartite partners in the industry employed to address labor exploitation in the tuna sector that also need to be reported and emphasized. Following a case study approach to elucidate an in-depth...