Echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administration’s push for sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready employment for all Filipinos, the Philippines, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), committed to strengthened policies and strategies to create more decent work and promote economic growth at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, held recently in New York City.
This is as DOLE Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres delivered the country’s intervention, highlighting the Philippines’ push to create better quality jobs and inclusive human resource development through the implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act.
TPB Act is the country’s flagship multi-stakeholder initiative designed to generate quality jobs, stimulate inclusive and job-rich economic development, and ensure accessible, meaningful, productive, and resilient employment.
“The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to SDG 8 through inclusive policy, social dialogue, and global cooperation. We are ready to work with partners to ensure no one is left behind in growth, in transition, and in the future of work,” Undersecretary Torres furthered.
Amid ongoing technological shifts, climate change, and global developments reshaping the world of work, the Philippines is intensifying its efforts to deliver demand-driven training through enterprise-based education and training programs.
Employment facilitation is also being strengthened through improved public employment services, career development support, apprenticeship opportunities, and job-matching social protection mechanisms.
Recognizing emerging job sectors, Undersecretary Torres emphasized the strategic integration of decent work initiatives into the Philippines’ shift towards green and digital economies.
This commitment is reflected in the country’s Green Jobs Human Resources Development Plan and the Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act, as well as in its active role as a pathfinder under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection.
Convened annually, the HLPF convenes experts from academia, think tanks, the private sector, national government organizations, the UN system, and international organizations to review the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
