News

The Philippines retains its stature of being a moderately free economy according to the latest results from the Index of Economic Freedom. The index was the subject of discussion and analysis in the ILS Philippine Performance Report released last February 5, 2016 and was based on the 2016 report provided by the Heritage Foundation.

The January Round of the 2016 Labor Force Survey (LFS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the national employment rate is 94.2%.

While the three key regions, namely, Central Luzon (92.5%), CALABARZON (92.5%), and National Capital Region (NCR) (93.1%) had employment rates lower than the national figure, other regions posted higher employment rates: Cagayan Valley (97%), MIMAROPA (95.9%), Cordillera Administrative Region (95.7%), and Eastern Visayas (95.3%).

In its report submitted to the DOLE-Planning Service, the Institute for Labor Studies has already completed initial consultations with target clients in relation to its target 15 researches for 2016.

The Institute for Labor Studies research titled, “Survey of Filipino Migrant Worker Returnees from Qatar” was presented in the forum “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!,” in line with the celebration of women’s month, held last April 7 at the Patricia Sto. Tomas Hall, Blas F. Ople Bldg of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) received its ISO 9001:2008 Registration Certificate in a ceremony held at the ILS Office in Intramuros, Manila last 18 March 2016.

OIC-Executive Director Mary Grace L. Riguer received the award for ILS from Allan B. Cabelin, Sales and Marketing Manager of the Anglo Japanese American (AJA) Registrars, an ISO certifying body based in the Philippines. Last September 2015, AJA Registrars also awarded ILS its Certificate of Attestation after it successfully passed the stage 2 third party audit for its ISO certification.

The Gender and Development (GAD) Committee of the Institute for Labor Studies participated during the National Women’s Month Forum held last March 16 at the Quirino Grandstand.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) sponsored the forum titled, “Sama-samang Pagsulong sa Agenda ni Juana” to advocate for women’s rights and the inclusion of gender sensitive issues in the Agenda for Program Development calling for the following changes: Gender balance in leadership and decision making positions in both the public and private-sector; inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and the government’s development agenda; and capacitating and preparing women and girls to reach their ambitions.

Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) staff Czarina Cortez and Ronell Delerio joined “In Her Shoes 3: Solidarity Walk for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment” organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC) in celebration of the National Women’s Month last March 7, 2016.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz confirmed the Career Service Executive Officer (CESO) IV Appointment of the Institute for Labor Studies OIC-Executive Director Ms. Mary Grace L. Riguer.

OIC-Exec. Dir.  Riguer, together with several other appointees, were sworn in by Secretary Dimapilis-Baldoz at the Office of the Secretary Conference Room.