8
The ILO has also articulated its vision for a post-pandemic recovery. At the
International Labour Conference of 2021, government, employer, and workers
representatives from 181 countries took up the Global Call to Action for a Humancentred Recovery. The call to action has four main areas for national and
international intervention: inclusive economic growth and employment, protection
of all workers, universal social protection, and social dialogue.21
Frameworks at the National Level
At the national level, respect for labor standards draws primarily from the Philippine
Constitution of 1987 and the Labor Code of the Philippines. How international
conventions are translated, if at all, into the Philippine context depends on these
crucial references. The constitution is clear in its recognition of labor as an integral
part of society. The document declares that the Philippine State shall "promote a
just and dynamic social order… and free the people from poverty through policies
that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard
of living, and an improved quality of life for all."22
Likewise, it "affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It [the State] shall
protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare"23 while also recognizing
"the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed investments."24 In essence, the 1987 Philippine
Constitution directs the State to guarantee workers' rights, protect their interests,
and promote their general welfare.
The Labor Code meanwhile provides many articles and sections devoted to the
practical application of the Philippine State's legal and social responsibilities on
labor relations. Books III and IV of the Code lay down the various standards
applicable to sweatshop workers in the country. Among the relevant clauses
include those on regular hours of work, night shift differentials, overtime work, and
minimum wage rates. They also include enforcement of safety and health
21
International Labour Organization, Global call to action for a human-centred recovery from the
COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient, available at
https://www.ilo.org/digitalguides/en-gb/story/globalcall (last accessed November 5, 2022).
22 PHIL. CONST. art. II, § 9.
23 PHIL. CONST. art. II, § 18.
24 PHIL. CONST. art. II, § 20.