RP supports Economic crisis Toil and Trouble Global Jobs seen to impact Newsbreak’s Pact child labour special edition > page 3 > page 3 > page 4 Decent Work for All Quarterly Newsletter of the ILO in the Philippines Volume 7, Issue 2 • 2009 President Arroyo declares ILO Week resident Macapagal-Arroyo declared PApril 21 to May 1, 2009 as International Labour Organization (ILO) Week. Through Proclamation No. 1754, the President pointed out that as an active member of the ILO since 1948, the Philippines “wished to enhance its commitment to pursue the ideals and principles of the ILO”. The Philippines, “through ILO social partners - the Government, Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations - reaffirmed its full support and cooperation with ILO mandate of promoting international peace and justice,” the President said. The President issued the proclamation as the ILO observed its 90th anniversary, on the 25th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Philadelphia, a vital annex of the ILO Constitution. Hope for trafficked women In Proclamation 1754, President Arroyo called on the Secretary of Labor By Rory Ilumin, Kanlungan to “spearhead and coordinate activities nationwide to celebrate International Labour Organization Week in close cooperation with the Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations”. The ILO celebrated its 90th anniversary with a wide range of high-level activities during the week She also urged all heads of of 21-28 April 2009 based on the theme “90 years of working for social justice”. departments, bureau, offices, agencies (Illustration by Gill Button) and instrumentalities of the government, non-government organizations, and the private sector to actively lead events and programmes to commemorate the week. Decent work and social justice Schools nationwide, especially elementary and high schools, were enjoined to hold ILO awareness activities, in times of crisis particularly during the celebration of the ILO Week. By Minette Rimando, ILO The President also urged the active support of the Office of the Press s it marked its 90th anniversary, the ILO year has turned into an economic crisis, a job crisis Secretary, members of the mass media, ASubregional Office in Manila initiated a forum and a social crisis,” said Sziraczki. He cited women, and cultural and civic organizations to on Decent work and social justice in times of crisis. migrant workers and young people as among those foster ILO awareness in the country. Discussants examined impacts of the global crisis most vulnerable. He stressed that progress in The proclamation was signed by the on the labour sector and assessed means to move poverty reduction was slowing because of expansion President on April 14. forward toward sustainable economic recovery. of the informal sector. Over 300 officials from government and non- Sziraczki highlighted the need for decent work government organizations, employers, workers for economic recovery and sustainable development. organizations, academic institutions, media, UN The crisis could provide an opportunity to progress agencies, embassies, international organizations and in health care reform and measures should form the project partners participated in the forum. basis of social protection for all. He recommended Gyorgy Sziraczki, ILO Senior Economist, tackling short-term challenges, while focusing on presented trends and impacts of the crisis in Asia long-term priorities and enabling a sound policy and the Pacific. “The crisis which started in the past environment. continued on page 2 2 Decent Work for All Decent Work for All 3 Decent Work for All EDITORIAL RP supports Global Jobs Pact EDITOR-IN-CHIEF By Aries Rufo, Newsbreak Linda Wirth he global financial crisis has had widespread needs, protecting displaced people and consequences for the world’s labour markets. It shoring up security and social stability. ASSOCIATE EDITOR T he Philippines has expressed strong support for has posed a grave threat to the livelihoods, health and • Technology and Innovation: developing package entailed infrastructure spending to create since foreign workers were often the first victims in Keiko Niimi the Global Jobs Pact, which puts the creation well-being of millions: already more than 1.2 billion technological infrastructure to facilitate the T jobs and improve productive capacity. an economic recession. of jobs and social protection at the core of stimulus MANAGING EDITOR workers in poverty prior to the crisis and more than promotion and access to innovation. But some critics said that the huge financial packages and national policies that seek to address Minette Rimando 620 million living in extreme poverty. • Monitoring and Analysis: strengthening package could be misleading, as some of the items Piracy victims the current global economic crunch. The UN framework response to the global and macroeconomic and financial surveillance had already been actually included in the 2009 budget CONTRIBUTORS In a statement delivered at the International financial crisis included: and implementing an effective economic but were tagged with a new name. The labour chief also took the opportunity to Melo Acuna Labour Organization (ILO) Summit on the Global • Additional financing for the most vulnerable: early warning system; urgently establishing Government data showed that about 200,000 challenge the ILO to look into the plight of seafarers, Robert Ela Jobs Crisis, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque stated: had been affected by the crisis, but only a portion especially Filipinos, who were victims of piracy in Aries Rufo advocating and devising a joint World Bank a UN system-wide vulnerability monitoring “Now is the opportune time to ensure that the wealth had resulted in permanent lay-offs. the Gulf of Aden. “While poverty and lawlessness Julita Yap - UN system mechanism for the common and alert mechanism to track developments, of resources flowing into national economic stimulus articulation and implementation of additional and report on the political, economic, social may have taken hold of that part of the world, this programmes is used optimally and equitably.” LAYOUT & DESIGN financing, including through the World Bank and environmental dimensions of the crisis. Human crisis must not infringe on the right of maritime workers Roque said the Philippines had responded to the Minette Rimando proposed Vulnerability Fund. The global economic crisis threatens advances to earn a living without compromising their lives.” economic crisis as soon as it had broken out, with • Food Security: strengthening programmes made under UN-led Millennium Development Roque said the global crisis was not just financial The Gulf of Aden, in the Arabian Sea between Decent Work for All is published quarterly by a stimulus package designed “to protect jobs and but also a “human crisis”. Yemen and Somalia, had been described as a “pirate- the ILO Subregional Office in Manila. The to feed the hungry and expanding support to Goals; it threatens to undermine progress towards create new ones”. He referred to the executive order “Many developing countries, our own included, alley” with dozens of commercial shipping vessels electronic version can be accessed at www. farmers in developing countries. reducing poverty. Thus, the core message of social directing all government agencies to set aside part ilo.org/manila. Opinions expressed do not • Trade: fighting protectionism, including justice and decent work is more significant than ever are hurting from the loss of relatively well-paid taken hostage by Somali pirates. of their approved budgets for the Comprehensive necessarily reflect the views of the ILO. through the conclusion of the Doha round as we trace the history of the ILO 90 years ago. jobs in the formal sector—mostly in the electronic The government had imposed a ban on the Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program ILO SUBREGIONAL OFFICE and strengthening aid for trade initiatives and However, we have to also look at the current crisis components, garments, information technology, deployment of commercial vessels carrying Filipino (CLEEP). FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC finance for trade. as an opportunity. Many positive initiatives with mining and other export-oriented industries. And seafarers to the Gulf following an increase in piracy. 19F Yuchengco Tower RCBC Plaza • A Green Economy Initiative: promoting enduring effects were born out of crisis. Where those displaced work-people are retreating into Based on government data, about 44 Filipinos in 6819 Ayala Avenue, Stimulus package investment in long-term environmental there is a will, there is a way! The Philippines and shared poverty of the informal sector,” he said four vessels were being held hostage by pirates. Makati City, Philippines Roque also reported to the ILO that Filipinos Since last year, more than 300 Filipinos in 20 Tel. No. +63 (2) 580 9900 sustainability and putting the world on a other Asian countries are capable of pursuing decent “Our target this year is to employ 500,000 overseas continued to be in demand abroad, ships had been held hostage by Somali pirates. Fax. No. +63 (2) 856 7597 climate-friendly path. work but there should be short-term emergency jobless Filipinos. There are also programmes for cushioning the economy from the adverse impact of World leaders, worker delegates and employer E-mail [email protected] • A Global Jobs Pact: boosting employment, assistance and long-term goals to make employment our overseas workers and those in the merchandise www.ilo.org/manila crisis. He said