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A closer look at just transition policies
Philippines

ECOP-FFW Bipartite Declaration on Just Transition

Region
Asia and the Pacific
Country
Philippines
Originator/Owner
Employers and business membership organizations (EBMOs), Workers' organizations
Coordinating/Lead actor
Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
Policy type
Collective bargaining agreements
Policy areas
Enterprise policies, Industrial and sectoral policies, Occupational safety and health, Rights, Skills development, Social dialogue and tripartism, Social protection
Environmental focus
Climate change
Target groups
Employers, Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), Workers
Sectoral focus
No sectoral focus
Crosscutting themes
Green economy
Date of Adoption
03 Oct 2024
Timeframe
Ongoing
03 Oct 2024 - Ongoing
Bipartite declaration enters into force
ECOP-FFW Bipartite Declaration on Just Transition
English, PDF

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) signed a landmark Just Transition Bipartite Declaration – affirming a shared commitment to achieving a sustainable, low-carbon economy that aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The Declaration commits both parties to undertake joint activities for a just transition across sectors and to engage with government to promote coherent and supportive policy. It also reaffirms support for and adherence to the ILO’s 2015 Guidelines for a Just Transition, particularly regarding sustainable development, social inclusion, poverty reduction, rights at work, social protection, and policy coherence.

Key insights
A collaborative framework for employers and workers in the Philippines advancing national sustainability goals and social dialogue

The Bipartite Declaration has three important aspects.

Firstly, it brings together key elements of workers and employers’ perspectives on a just transition in one document. It reinforces that green jobs should involve decent workstandards, including occupational safety and health. It also highlights the importance of enterprises’ access to technology and finance – naming small and medium-sized enterprises in particular.

Secondly, it signals ECOP and FFW's intention to collaborate at multiple levels to implement a just transition – thereby putting in place conditions for strengthened social dialogue across key industries in transition. The document contains an important commitment to establish a bipartite Just Transition committee at national level and encourages the same at industry and enterprise levels, whereby employers and workers can jointly develop greening plans and practical, sector-specific solutions. Engagement activities, research, partnerships, capacity-building, training and services are also named.

Thirdly, it advocates for government policies aligned with just transition across environmental, economic, and labour departments, among others. ECOP and FFW call for elements of the Philippines’ policy architecture – including the Green Jobs Act – to be reviewed to ensure they integrate just transition principles.

Expected Outcomes
A strengthened just transition programme driven by social partners
Implementation
Joint committees and shaping action plans

The bipartite partners have been formalising the first standing bipartite committee on just transition, at national level.

Specific collaborative activities may be set based on the plans within existing commitments by each of the social partners, namely the Workers for Just Transition 13-Point Labor Agenda and ECOP's Sustainability Roadmap published in 2024.

Both ECOP and FFW have shared formal messages of support for the preparation and update of the National Green Jobs Human Resource Development Plan by the Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines. This national policy creates a framework for tripartite action at more granular levels.

Affirming and advocating for bipartite action
03 Oct 2024
Bipartite declaration | Actors: Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), supported by the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) and the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) | The declaration establishes bipartite cooperation between ECOP and FFW and operationalizes Just Transition through industry- and enterprise-level committees for ongoing joint decision-making.
2025 - Ongoing
Discussions, presentations, and forming just transition committees | Actors: ECOP, FFW, Department of Labor and Employment, ILO, other national and international partners | Forums, roundtables, and tripartite consultations.
Other stakeholders
Tripartite constituents are the main focus

Consultation with other stakeholders remains an open question as partners implement the agreement.