Forced labour poses serious human rights and decent work concerns in the Philippines, risks heightened by informality, gaps in labour protection and economic pressures.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recognizes the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour as one of the fundamental principles and rights at work, essential to decent work, social justice and human dignity.
"Forced labour has no place in our societies. Eliminating this practice is fundamental to achieving decent work, social justice, and human dignity," said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
The risks of forced labour in the Philippines are particularly relevant to tradeable sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing and mining. The practice is often hidden, making it difficult to measure its true scale and identify workers who need protection. The issue also has growing implications for the country's trade and businesses, seeking to ensure responsible business conduct across their supply chains.
Against this backdrop, the ILO and the Government of Canada have joined forces and launched a new four-year project on Promoting responsive institutions and mechanisms to eliminate forced labour in the Philippines (PRIME PH). This initiative is supported by the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada and will run until February 2030.
PRIME PH will work with the Philippine Government, workers' and employers' organizations and other partners to strengthen policies, institutions, put in place measures to prevent and address forced labour, protect workers and improve access to justice and remedies. The project further aims to enhance the country's compliance with international labour standards while promoting decent work and responsible business conduct. Manufacturing and agriculture are among the targeted sectors under the project, which export products to Canada.
"Protection from forced labour is fundamental to decent work, human dignity, and fair competition. The Philippines stands at the forefront of this effort, with strong labour standards that protect workers, uphold human rights, and strengthen our place in global trade," said DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino.
"Canada values its strong trade relationship with the Philippines, including in key manufacturing and agricultural sectors. As we explore a potential free trade agreement between our countries and advance negotiations towards a free trade agreement with ASEAN, this initiative reflects our shared commitment to protecting workers' rights and upholding international labour standards. By working together, Canada and the Philippines can strengthen opportunities for workers and businesses alike by keeping workers' rights at the heart of our economic partnership and creating lasting benefits for communities in both countries." said Patty Hajdu, Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
"Forced labour 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. The PRIME PH project will advance efforts in Philippine tradeable sectors to prevent forced labour and strengthen protections for workers. Through these types of partnerships, we can help build fairer workplaces while ensuring worker's rights are respected," added John Zerucelli, Canada's Secretary of State for Labour.
The Philippines and Canada take the issue of forced labour seriously. They have both ratified the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105). The Philippines has also adopted policy frameworks including the 2023-27 National Strategic Action Plan Against Trafficking in Persons and the 2023-28 Philippine Program Against Child Labour. Also, under Philippine law, human trafficking for the purpose of forced labour is prohibited. Since 2020, Canada prohibits the import of goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or partly with forced labour, and has recently introduced a new legislative framework to strengthen its import ban.
Despite its existing laws and policies, the Philippines continues to face challenges in identifying cases of forced labour, preventing workers' exploitation, protecting victims of forced labour, strengthening enforcement and ensuring effective implementation. The new project PRIME PH will help address these gaps while promoting responsible business practices and stronger cooperation among government, workers, employers, civil society and other partners.
"Through this partnership, we are investing in stronger institutions, meaningful social dialogue and collective action that uphold workers' rights and protect the most vulnerable," stressed ILO Director Hassan. "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."
Nearly 100 representatives from governments, workers' and employers' organizations, civil society, development partners, academia and the private sector joined the launch and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing decent work and ending forced labour.
