Philippines

ECOP-FFW Bipartite Declaration on Just Transition

Región
Asia and the Pacific
País
Philippines
Originador/titular
Employers and business membership organizations (EBMOs), Workers' organizations
Coordinating/Lead actor
Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
Tipo de política
Collective bargaining agreements
Áreas de política
Enterprise policies, Industrial and sectoral policies, Occupational safety and health, Rights, Skills development, Social dialogue and tripartism, Social protection
Enfoque ambiental
Climate change
Grupos destinatarios
Employers, Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), Workers
Enfoque sectorial
No sectoral focus
Temas transversales
Green economy
Date of Adoption
03 Oct 2024
Marco temporal
Ongoing
03 Oct 2024 - En curso
Bipartite declaration enters into force

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.

Ideas clave
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.

Resultados esperados
A strengthened just transition programme driven by social partners
Implementación
Joint committees and shaping action plans
Affirming and advocating for bipartite action
03 Oct 2024
Bipartite declaration | Actores: 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 - En curso
Discussions, presentations, and forming just transition committees | Actores: 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.