Philippines Trains Advocates on Labor Rights

Demonstrating a strong commitment to labour rights, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) piloted the Freedom of Association (FOA) Training of Trainers (TOT) Programme in Luzon, designed to build a dynamic pool of trainers who will lead efforts to promote and protect freedom of association across the Philippines.

"We are here taking the first of many steps to achieve for our society an environment where human rights and trade union rights will flourish in a sustainable manner", said Atty. Arturo Alfonso Herbosa, Director of DOLE Bureau of Labor Relations. "We are here to train a cadre of advocates who can help spread the word, continue the journey, and be able to build an environment where human rights can flourish."

A wide range of participants, including representatives from government institutions, workers' and employers' organizations, security forces, and the academe gathered for the FOA TOT. The training programme brought together 33 officials who are being equipped not only with technical knowledge, but also with the strategic capacity to serve as multipliers and advocates for freedom of association and labour rights. Their efforts aim to extend FOA principles into workplaces, communities, and institutions nationwide.

"This training serves as concrete proof of the Philippines' commitment to advance social justice and human dignity," said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines. "Through this programme, pilot participants are expected to become trainers, and share the knowledge, practical examples and proposed remedies learned to other stakeholders. They are not just trainers but advocates of freedom of association and civil liberties."

The modules covered a wide range of topics, including human rights as the foundation of democracy, labour rights and FOA in the Philippine context, documentation and reporting of violations, and available remedies for workers. The training also explored FOA in relation to business and human rights, gender equality, climate change, and migration. A case-based learning approach is used to help participants apply laws and policies effectively.

This particular training was my first time encountering such a comprehensive and compact set of modules. After organizing unorganized workers, our next step is to educate them about their rights. Everything in it is very useful, especially the parts that emphasize inclusivity-addressing issues faced by women and LGBTQIA+ members.

Catherine Villalon, Education Officer, Associated Labour Union - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP)

Through the programme, participants contextualized FOA within international labour standards and democratic frameworks. They also learned to interpret and apply the 2024 Omnibus Guidelines on FOA and Civil Liberties, assess real-world scenarios, and recommended rights-based solutions. Additionally, the training encouraged the development of tailored action and education plans to institutionalize FOA within the respective sectors.

Lyndone dela Cruz, Industrial Relations Officer at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), emphasized the value of recent training efforts in collaboration with DOLE. "This initiative strengthens our capacity to promote labour education among employers, workers' groups, and within PEZA," he said. "It equips us to better protect labour rights, support environmental responsibility, and maintain industrial peace in our economic zones."

Sessions were facilitated by experts from DOLE, ILO, Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and the University of the Philippines Law Center - Workers and Employees Program (UP Law - WEP).

To enhance accessibility and engagement, the FOA training has been integrated into the DOLE E-campus, offering participants a flexible, self-paced learning experience with access to digital modules, references, and online forums.

The ILO through the "Strengthening Freedom of Association and Action Against Child Labour in the Philippines" project funded by the Government of Canada, and the "Trade for Decent Work" project funded by the European Union supported the initiative. The training was held from 26-31 August 2025 in Clark, Pampanga.