ILO, Canada Partner to Combat Forced Labor in Philippines

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Canadian government have launched a four-year project to strengthen the Philippines’ systems for detecting and addressing forced labor, with a focus on worker protection and sectors linked to international trade. “Forced labor has no place in our societies. Eliminating this practice is fundamental to achieving decent work, social justice, and human dignity,” ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said on Tuesday during the launch of the initiative, called Promoting Responsive Institutions and Mechanisms to Eliminate Forced Labour in the Philippines. The project, co-funded by the Canadian government, will run until February 2030. It will collect evidence on forced labor in high-risk trade-linked sectors and help businesses conduct supply-chain due diligence. Manufacturing and agriculture, which export products to Canada, are among the targeted sectors, the ILO said. “Protection from forced labor is fundamental to decent work, human dignity, and fair competition. The Philippines stands at the forefront of this effort, with strong labor standards that protect workers, uphold human rights, and strengthen our place in global trade,” Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said. “Forced labor is a serious violation of human rights that demands a targeted response, and Canada is committed to working with partners to prevent it and protect workers,” Canada’s Secretary of State for Labour John Zerucelli said. The initiative comes as Canada maintains a ban on imports of goods produced with forced labor and has introduced legislation to strengthen the framework. Canadian Minister of Jobs and Families Patricia A. Hajdu said the project is part of Canada’s broader economic relationship with the Philippines as the countries explore a potential free trade agreement. The Philippines has policies against forced labor, including the 2023-27 National Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons and the 2023-28 Philippine Program Against Child Labor. It has also ratified two ILO conventions against forced labor. Despite these measures, the ILO said the Philippines continues to face challenges in identifying forced labor cases and preventing worker exploitation. “Through this partnership, we are investing in stronger institutions, meaningful social dialogue and collective action that uphold workers’ rights and protect the most vulnerable,” Mr. Hassan said. “We want to ensure that every person can work in freedom and dignity. This is the future that the ILO is committed to advancing together with governments, workers and employers.” — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez