Senior labor officials from the ten ASEAN member-states started meeting in Manila on Tuesday to discuss updates on the various regional labor and employment programs as a prelude to the 27th ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting later this week.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. welcomed the delegates of the 18th Senior Labor Officials’ Meeting (SLOM), as the Philippines assumed chairmanship of the meeting from Indonesia. The senior labor officials are meeting physically after two years of virtual meetings due to COVID-19.
Indonesian Ministry of Manpower Secretary General Dr. Anwar Sanusi, as outgoing chair, expressed confidence that the working group can continue to serve as a platform to foster cooperation and contribute to the region’s post-pandemic recovery efforts under the Philippine leadership.
“We pass the SLOM chairmanship baton to the Philippines. I believe under [its leadership], we can accelerate our efforts to realize our ambition of an inclusive, sustainable, resilient, and dynamic ASEAN community,” the Indonesian senior labor official said.
Undersecretary Bitonio accepted the chairmanship role on behalf of the Philippines, conveying the country’s commitment to continuously address the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the transformations in today’s world of work.
“We meet today high in expectation, commitment, and resolve to continue strengthening the socio-cultural pillar of regional cooperation through innovative, technology-driven, and sustainable measures that will enable workers and businesses to grow and prosper in line with the goal of decent work and inclusive growth for all,” Bitonio said, addressing the ASEAN senior labor officials.
Aside from updates on the labor and employment programs in the region, also high on the agenda of the meeting are programs on technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
According to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Deputy Director-General Rosanna Urdaneta, the Philippines’ commitment to the ASEAN in terms of TVET include strengthening labor market orientation of TVET, enhancing capacity of TVET human resource, and increasing demand for TVET-related jobs, among others.
The Philippines is also the inaugural chair of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC), established to promote competitive human resource, market-responsive skills, greater employment opportunities, and higher productivity in the digital economy through technical and vocational education and training.
The 18th SLOM is a preparatory meeting of the 27th ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting on October 29. ###
