RTIPC VI endorses ILO Convention No. 155

Iloilo City- Demonstrating its firm commitment to upholding international labor standards, the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (RTIPC) of Region VI passed a resolution endorsing the ratification of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention No. 155 (C155) also known as the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Convention of 1981 during its 2^nd Quarter Meeting held in Iloilo on May 30, 2025 which was attended by Usec. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez, Undersecretary for Workers Welfare and Protection Cluster, and together with the staff from Bureau of Working Conditions0.

As a member state of the ILO, the Philippines has consistently supported the promotion of decent, productive, safe, and healthy working environments. Through this resolution, the RTIPC formally recommends to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other concerned agencies the ratification of C155, underscoring the nation’s dedication to strengthening occupational safety and health standards across all sectors.

Usec. Benavidez assured the RTIPC that the ratification of C155 will not add burden or cost to the management. “We are not compromising standards but we are not adding burden to the enterprises or to the management,’ he explained. “Making the workplace a safe haven for workers and employers is a shared responsibility; mas magasto kung may maaksidente than to comply with the requirements,” stressed the Undersecretary referring to the provisions of C155. 

ILO Convention No. 155 outlines the key responsibilities of both employers and workers in ensuring safe and healthful workplaces. Specifically, Article 16 mandates employers to ensure that machinery, equipment, and processes under their control are safe and without risk to health. It also calls for the proper management of chemical, physical, and biological agents and the provision of adequate protective equipment and clothing.

On the other hand, Article 19 of the Convention affirms the rights of workers to receive OSH training, be informed about preventive measures taken by employers, and to refuse work that may cause imminent danger to their health or life—without the risk of reprisal or forced return until safety is guaranteed.

Following extensive consultations and a comprehensive gap analysis conducted by both regional and national authorities—including the OSH Center—several key challenges were identified in the Philippines’ current OSH framework. These include the lack of sector-specific guidelines for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the absence of structured OSH mechanisms in the public sector, exclusion of some government agencies from OSH programs, inadequate reporting and enforcement mechanisms, and limited data sharing on work-related injuries and illnesses.

To respond to these challenges and to align with ILO standards, DOLE issued the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11508 through Department Order No. 252, which further enhances the country’s OSH framework and reinforces its readiness to ratify ILO Convention No. 155.

“The endorsement of this Convention reinforces the Council’s commitment to improving OSH standards by promoting inclusive and effective policies and programs,” Regional Director and RTIPC Chairperson Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr.  emphasized, “It is a critical step toward addressing existing gaps in workplace safety,” he added.

The RTIPC’s endorsement is a critical milestone in the Philippines’ journey toward safer and healthier workplaces for all—laying the groundwork for future reforms, stakeholder collaboration, and improved compliance with international labor standards./jpm/jjcc