Baldoz to raise PHL labor concerns in Geneva meet

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz will leave for Geneva this week to represent the Philippines in the 100th session of the International Labor Organization (ILO). Baldoz will hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the Labor Department said in a news release Tuesday. "While at the ILO conference, Baldoz will also hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during which she would discuss overseas employment concerns," DOLE said. She will also meet with ILO Director Cleopatra Henry and International Organization for Migration Director General Brunson Mckinley, the DOLE release said. Baldoz is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the ASEAN Labor Ministers and a dialogue with Swiss officials, as well as meet with Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos Salinas and POLO officials. While on official mission, Baldoz said Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz will be the DOLE Acting Secretary. Baldoz said she will talk on how the Philippine Development Plan and the Labor and Employment Plan will promote inclusive growth and sharing the fruits of such growth. "This is the first time that I will speak at the ILO as Secretary of Labor and Employment, and I intend to project the Philippines as an ILO member lock-in step with the developing world in expressing our specific concerns on many labor and employment issues," she said. "I will inform the ILO that the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III anchors its Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 on his Social Contract with the Filipino people where the government binds itself to prioritize jobs and empower the people and provide them opportunities to rise above poverty," she added. Baldoz also said she will join the Philippine tripartite delegation to the ILO conference and actively participate in the ILO discussions, where one of the agenda items is the Domestic Work Convention. Last June 2, ILO Director General Juan Somavia opened the 100th ILO session with a report where he called for commitment to a new era of social justice and sustainable development to address this mounting “turmoil" in the world of work. Baldoz said she will convey the message that the Philippines, as a long-standing and active ILO member, reaffirms the country’s commitment to the ILO Declaration of Social Justice. She said she will also relay the message that as a response to the call for fair globalization, the Philippines has specific measures and policies "universal in spirit but unique to our natural context about how we can move forward and achieve inclusive growth to attain decent work for all based on the principle of social justice and sustainable development." - GMA News