PH gears up for GSP  reapplication, labor rule

- Advertisement -

The Philippines is working on its compliance to the last of the six  additional conventions –  the one on labor –  the European Commission  (EC) is proposing for the  renewal  of the European Union (EU) Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP +).

But while these new requirements are yet to be finalized by the EU, officials  of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are gearing up for the reapplication  of the Philippines under a new GSP framework.

The current GSP+ expires on Dec. 31, 2023.

- Advertisement -

Allan Gepty, DTI assistant secretary, said in a text message the Department of Labor and Employment is working on the ratification process of  the International Labor Organization  Convention 81 on Labor Inspection, the only convention the Philippines yet to ratify.

Gepty said the  concurrence of agencies will have to be obtained for the ratification after which the Department of Foreign Affairs   will assess if the ratification can be done via executive agreement or treaty.

If the process will be via treaty accession then the ratification will  be subject to Senate concurrence, he added.

“The Philippines is a strong advocate of labor rights and welfare, thus, working on this accession will further strengthen our regime for the protection of workers,” Gepty said.

He said the Philippines will pursue  reapplication for the new EU GSP+ “as it will not only maintain our comparative advantage in the EU market but it can further boost our exports as well encourage more investments in the country. “

As the only Asean member-state  enjoying such privilege in the region and with its network of free trade agreements,  the Philippines can well position itself as a manufacturing hub in the region, Gepty added.

Current beneficiaries of the GSP+ arrangement would be given a two-year transition period to meet the additional requirements and reapply to the GSP+ scheme until  Dec. 31,  2025. They will continue to benefit from GSP+ preferences throughout the application process.

At present, GSP+ beneficiaries adhere to 27 conventions on human rights, labor rights, good governance,and environmental protection.

The EC’s proposal expands this list by two human rights instruments, two labor rights conventions, one governance convention and one environmental instrument: Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict; Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Convention on Labor Inspection No 81; Convention on Tripartite Consultations No 144; eParis Agreement on climate change and; United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: