The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has defended the Philippines’ labor record, citing reforms and recent achievements as proof of progress in protecting workers’ rights.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma issued the statement after the Philippines was again listed among the “10 worst countries for workers” in a global assessment by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Senator Loren Legarda earlier urged DOLE to lead a coordinated reform push, noting the Philippines has now appeared on the ITUC list for the ninth consecutive year. “Workers are the backbone of our economy, and the consistent red-flagging by global monitors means we still have deep institutional gaps to fill,” she said.
Laguesma pointed to the country’s recent election to the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Committee on Freedom of Association as a strong indication of improving labor conditions. He also noted that the Philippines was excluded from the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) review this year.
“If the Philippines is truly one of the worst countries for workers, then how did we earn a seat in the Committee on Freedom of Association for the first time last year?” he asked. Still, the ITUC’s 2025 Global Rights Index gave the Philippines a rating of 5, the lowest possible score, citing issues such as red-tagging of union leaders, unresolved labor disputes, and police violence.
