Promoting Responsive Institutions and Mechanisms to eliminate forced labour in the Philippines (PRIME PH)

Forced labour is a human rights violation in the world of work that is rooted in broader decent work deficits, gaps in governance and enforcement frameworks, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Millions of workers around the world are subjected to forced labour practices, and the risk is highest in sectors with high levels of informality and weak regulatory frameworks. Trafficking in persons for forced labour is prohibited by Philippine laws. The country has ratified the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) and Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105). Meanwhile, discussions on the ratification of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention (Protocol 29) are high on the agenda of the Philippine Government. The most recent Observation from the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) on the application of ILO C29 recognized the Philippine’s institutional framework for combatting trafficking in persons, including for forced labour. The CEACR noted that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)’s concluding observations of 2023, while commending the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its legal and policy framework to combat trafficking in persons, expressed concern that the country remains a source, destination and transit country for trafficking in persons, in particular women and girls, for purposes of sexual exploitation and labour exploitation. The CEACR likewise welcomed the continued strengthening of the institutional framework to combat trafficking in persons and requested the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to combat trafficking in persons both for labour and sexual exploitation, particularly of women and girls, including by effectively implementing the four key areas under the National Strategic Action Plan, 2023–2027. The proposed project will focus on supporting the Philippine government and social partners to understand, assess, prevent, address and eliminate forced labour and to strengthen the country’s compliance with international labour standards related to forced labour with focus on tradeable sectors. It will introduce innovative interventions anchored in ILO’s Plan of Action to eliminate forced labour and in alignment with the four strategic areas of the Philippine framework for addressing trafficking in persons – prevention and advocacy, protection and rehabilitation, prosecution and law enforcement and partnerships. These will include a review of the current legal framework towards aligning with international labour standards and adaptation of forced labour indicators. A sub-national level approach will allow a more focused approach in targeting tradeable sectors. For instance, the manufacturing industry has higher presence in economic zones in Regions III (Central Luzon) and IV-A (CALABARZON), agriculture sectors are in the Visayas Regions, and critical minerals sector are more prominent in Bicol and CARAGA regions. The selection of areas of operation will be made in the project’s inception workshop. Likewise, the project will introduce action-oriented thematic dialogues between buyers and suppliers to understand the identified issues on forced labour and to facilitate agreements to support efforts against forced labour. Involvement of trade unions in these discussions will also be explored. This could also be expanded to involve the governments of Canada and the Philippines. Meaningful engagement of trade unions, other workers’ organizations and the private sector will be prioritised, particularly to support effective targeted application of interventions through supply chain approaches in high-risk sectors.

Project symbol

PHL/25/03/CAN

Admin unit

CO-Manila

Start date

24/02/2026

End date

23/02/2030

Total allocation

720587

Total expenditure

Status

Active

0

Development Partners

Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada

Country/Countries

Philippines

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Strong, modernized normative action for social justice
Outcome 2: Strong, representative and influential tripartite constituents and effective social dialogue