PH, ILO to Push for Migrant Workers’ Rights in GCM Negotiations 

ILO Director General Guy Ryder (left) and Ambassador Evan P. Garcia (right) of the Philippine Mission in Geneva exchange views on international labor cooperation and the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva. 

12 March 2018 GENEVA - The Philippines and the International Labour Organization will strengthen cooperation to promote ethical recruitment and decent work principles in the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) process to ensure the protection of migrant workers’ rights.

In his meeting with ILO Director General Guy Ryder last 08 March, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia of the Philippine Mission in Geneva expressed the country’s readiness to work with the ILO and like-minded UN member states in pushing for decent work in the Compact.

ILO DG Ryder took the opportunity to convey his appreciation to Ambassador Garcia for previous and current Philippines-ILO cooperation, including in the adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189), the General Principles and Operational Guidelines on Fair Recruitment which the Philippines had chaired in September 2016, and the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006, where the country is the regular Vice-Chair for the government group.

On the Zero Draft Plus, the Director General and the Ambassador agreed that they would like to see clearer elements on migrant workers' rights in the Compact. Ambassador Garcia said that migrant workers' rights, whether those of regular or irregular migrants, must be a central focus of the GCM.  He encouraged like-minded governments, with supportive international organizations and civil society, to join hands in this endeavor. END

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGenevaUN/

Ambassador Garcia and DG Ryder shake hands as they agree to ensure migrant workers' rights protection in the Compact.