The Philippines recently became the first country in Asia and the 38th in the world to formally ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190, a move that will have an impact on local Chinese business owners and bring with it a number of key things to keep in mind.。
What is Convention No. 190?：
International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190 is an international standard dedicated to the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace.
It aims to ensure that workplaces are free from all forms of violence and harassment and provide a safe, dignified and respectful working environment for all workers.
The Convention covers a wide range of behaviours, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, psychological violence, physical violence, and economic violence. In addition, the Convention requires signatories to take measures to ensure that specific groups affected by violence and harassment, such as women, adolescents, migrant workers, etc., receive additional protection and support.
And the ratification of Convention No. 190 means that the Philippines will adopt stricter measures to protect workers' rights and interests. For Chinese bosses, this means that when operating a business in the Philippines, they must pay more attention to the rights and interests of their employees and the working environment, and make sure that they comply with the local labour regulations and international standards.
As labour protection standards increase, Chinese owners may need to adjust the current content of their business and management structure, which may involve enhanced management training, increased awareness of labour laws, better human resource management systems, better employee handbooks, and the development of effective violence prevention and harassment prevention measures to ensure company compliance.
Secondly, the Philippine government is likely to strengthen regulation and enforcement of businesses to ensure their compliance with labour regulations and international conventions.
Therefore, Chinese business owners need to enhance their understanding of local laws and regulations, actively cooperate with the government, comply with the norms and prevent legal risks.
With the Philippines' accession to ILO Convention 190, there may be some new legal and policy changes that Chinese business owners need to pay attention to and adapt to in a timely manner.