Executive Order No. 23 (2023)

Section 1.

Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers .—There is hereby consulted an Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers ("Inter-Agency Committee") tasked primarily to take all necessary measures to effectively respond to the identified four (4) specific areas of action, and to further foster the exercise of the workers' freedom of association and the rgiths to organize and to bargain with full regard to human, civil, political, economic and social rights and liberties. The Inter-Agency Committee shall be composed of the following:

Chairperson

:

Executive Secretary

Vice Chairperson

:

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

Members

:

Department of Justice

Department of the Interior and Local Government

Department of National Defense

Department of Trade and Industry

National Security Council

Philippine National—Police

The DOLE shall serve as the Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Committee, and shall provide technical and administrative support to the Inter-Agency Committee in the performance of its functions.

When necessary, the Inter-Agency Committee may request the attendance or participation of other relevant agencies, such as the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Human Rights, to ensure that the objectives of this EO are achieved.

Powers and Functions

Section 2.

Powers and Functions .—The Inter-Agency Committee shall lead the implementation of this Order. For this purposes, the Inter-Agency Committee shall have the following powers and functions:

a. Consolidate and evaluate all reports submitted by concerned agencies under Section 3 hereof, and shall submit to the President a comprehensive report on its findings and recommendations, as well as actions taken to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Order;

b. Develop a roadmap containing the priority areas of action, tangible deliverables, clear responsibilities, and appropriate timeframes, consistent with the recommendations of the HLTM, and which shall serve as framework and strategic guide for best ways forward. The roadmap shall be subject to regular review and should consider the consolidated reports and recommendations from concerned agencies, and inputs from other relevant stakeholders;

c. Monitor the progress of implementation of the action plans, and the close coordination among concerned agencies to ensure speedy and impartial investigation, prosecution, and resolution of cases with respect to the exercise of the right of workers to freedom of association and their right to organize; and

d. Perform such other functions as may be directed by the President to ensure that the objective of the EO are achieved. £A⩊phi£

Submission of Reports

Section 3.

Submission of Reports .—Within thirty (30) days from the issuance of this Order, the concerned agencies, individually or collectively, shall submit to the Inter-Agency Committee a report which shall contain the following:

a. Inventory, nature, and status of cases and incidents within their respective areas of jurisdiction or authority, as well as those pending in courts which involve trade unionists or persons belonging to workers' organizations whose rights to— freedom of association, to organize, and to collectively bargain have been allegedly violated, accompanied by a time-bound action plan to resolve or address such cases and incidents;

b. Inventory of community-based programs affecting trade unions, employers and workers;

c. Inventory, nature and status of cases related to freedom of association and right to organize of workers, involving agency personnel and State agents arising from the exercise of their official functions directly affecting workers and trade unions;

d. Measures or initiatives being undertaken or proposals to strengthen agency programs and mechanisms, including joint implementation, monitoring and information-sharing arrangements, to address outstanding issues and to promote and protect freedom of association and the rights to organize and to bargain collectively; and

e. A comprehensive education and capacity-building programs and communications plan to promote common understanding within and among all concerned agencies of the principles, policies, laws and regulations on freedom of association and the rights to self-organization and collective bargaining.

All concerned agencies shall submit quarterly progress reports, in the form and manner to be prescribed by the Inter-Agency Committee.

Designation of Focal Unit or Office

Section 4.

Designation of Focal Unit or Office .—Each of the concerned agencies shall designate a focal unit or office within the agency, to be headed by an official with a rank not lower than that of an Undersecretary, which shall monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation and progress of agency action plans and initiatives relating to freedom of association and the rights to organize and to collective bargaining.

Funding

Section 5.

Funding .—The funds necessary for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against appropriate funding sources of the concerned agencies.

Separability

Section 6.

Separability .—If any section or part of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effort.

Repeal

Section 7.

Repeal .—All issuances, orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are inconsistent with this Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Effectivity

Section 8.

Effectivity. —This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, —in the City of Manila, this 30th—day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty Three.—

(SGD.)— FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. —

By— the President:

(SGD.)— LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Executive Secretary