The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), workers, and employers have agreed on swift, coordinated steps to protect jobs and keep businesses afloat as fuel costs surge. threaten key industries. The commitments were forged during the meeting of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) early this week in Quezon City, where government, labor, and management agreed on a unified response to preserve employment, stabilize operations, and shield workers from the fallout of rising oil prices, particularly in the transport, logistics, and other fuel-dependent sectors. DOLE Officer-in-Charge Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. said that at the core of the agreement was to keep Filipinos employed while ensuring businesses remain viable. He urged employers to bring workers into decision-making, stressing that frontline employees can deliver fast, practical solutions on the ground. The NTIPC identified transport, logistics, and other energy-intensive sectors as most vulnerable, and pushed for targeted interventions to stabilize employment while safeguarding workers’ welfare. To mitigate the impact on displaced or at-risk workers, Bitonio said, the labor department would ramp up emergency employment, livelihood aid, and social protection programs for affected workers. "Targeted assistance for transport workers will be rolled out with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and local governments," added Bitonio. The Council also reviewed labor market priorities under the Labor and Employment Plan and pushed to strengthen Freedom of Association (FOA) to boost worker representation. New industry councils for emerging sectors, stricter anti-violence and anti-harassment policies, and faster, coordinated responses to economic shocks are also in the pipeline. Discussions also covered the creation of industry tripartite councils in emerging and critical sectors, such as the platform economy, power, and business process outsourcing, as well as the strengthened implementation of workplace policies against violence and harassment.
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