The ILO Office in Manila has intensified its engagement with Philippine business leaders through targeted discussions on labour standards, trade, and responsible business conduct, emphasizing the growing connection between decent work and market access.
In collaboration with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT), senior managers and compliance officers from export-oriented enterprises explored how fundamental principles and rights at work are increasingly influencing trade agreements, buyer requirements, and investment decisions. Participants examined the Philippine policy landscape, including the upcoming National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, announced in August 2025 as part of the National Human Rights Strategy 2024–2028. Drawing on a regional review of similar plans across Asia and the Pacific, the ILO highlighted the value of early and structured private-sector engagement for regulatory predictability and smoother compliance implementation.
Exporters reviewed developments related to monitoring under the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus, labour provisions in trade agreements, and the expanding use of import controls connected to forced labour. Practical sessions strengthened understanding of trade and supply chain linkages while reinforcing the fundamentals of rights at work.
The workshop also introduced tools to help enterprises meet evolving compliance standards. ECOP presented its Digital Self-Assessment Checklist version 3.0, aligned with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, and an online ESG pulse check platform designed to assess and strengthen corporate compliance systems.
In a separate briefing, the ILO engaged leading business organizations, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Makati Business Club, Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, and the Philippine Business Council of Women, alongside a former President of the Philippine Stock Exchange, on the development of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.
Through these initiatives, the ILO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Philippine enterprises in navigating the evolving interplay between labour standards and global trade, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting responsible business practices.
