Phl spearheads ILO gov’t group

The Philippines is expected to lead the International Labor Organization (ILO) government group next year, the body that represents governments in the tripartite global labor organization.

According to Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Geneva Labor Attaché Cheryl Daytec, the Philippines will automatically take the chairmanship of the ILO government group in 2021 when its term as vice chair expires next year.

Recently, the Philippines made history in the stage of international labor when it became the first observer-nation to be elevated as vice chairman of a powerful group. This is the first time in 100 years of the ILO that an observer nation is elected as vice-chair of its government group.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who will soon sit as chair of the government group, described the feat as “the dawning of a new hope for the voiceless in the ILO.”

“I congratulate the Philippine Permanent Mission to the UN and our POLO in Geneva for judiciously pursuing our country’s long quest for a substantial seat in the ILO,” Bello said.

“This milestone, I believe, gives hope to countries that have no voice and no vote in the ILO,” he added.

Having been a member of the voiceless observer states for a long time, the Philippines could play a leadership role in helping achieve the ILO’s long dream of institutionalizing democratic participation in its affairs.

The ILO, the United Nations’ oldest specialized agency, is comprised of titular member states, deputy member states and observer states. The first two have speaking rights, with only the titular member states bestowed with the right to vote. Observer nations have neither the speaking nor voting rights.

With its election, world labor observers say the Philippines, long consigned to observer status, could now play a pivotal role in the clamor for equality by smaller countries, especially those from Africa, Asia and others.