PH employers urge reforms amid inflation, AI challenges

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on Wednesday issued a unified call for urgent and wide-ranging policy reforms as the country faces a “poly-crisis,” or an overlap of global and domestic challenges.

In its resolution at the conclusion of the 47th National Conference of Employers, ECOP officially adopted a landmark resolution outlining a collaborative, "all-of-society" blueprint to safeguard the Philippine economy against geopolitical shocks, inflation, and the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The employers’ group acknowledged that the country is currently facing a complex "poly-crisis"—characterized by heightened geopolitical tensions, volatile oil prices, supply chain uncertainties, and stubborn inflationary pressures.

According to the resolution, these issues are compounding deeper structural challenges, threatening the nation's productivity, investment appeal, and capacity to generate decent jobs.

"In spite of the poly-crisis caused by these intersecting challenges, Philippine employers recognize opportunities in the country’s young workforce, rich natural resources, and deeper regional integration," the resolution stated.

ECOP mapped out a six-point action plan, urging immediate, synchronized collaboration between government agencies, workers' organizations, and private stakeholders:

• pursue shared vision and agenda for a future-ready, dynamic, resilient, and sustainable Philippine economy, workforce, and society
• implement immediate and continuing education, training, social protection, and just transition strategies required by the changing workplace
• adopt responsible and human-centered integration of AI and other emerging technologies into their operations
• address current and emerging challenges on job displacement, skills mismatch, diversity and inclusion, business continuity, supply and value chain resilience, climate adaptation, and other sustainability issues and concerns
• seek a viable path for the platform economy and similar emerging work arrangements to prosper by advancing workers’ protection while preserving flexibility, innovation, and economic opportunity
• work together to uphold good governance, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law as foundations of long-term stability and progress for all

ECOP said its resolution should guide the group’s advocacy and engagement with domestic and foreign governments, industry stakeholders, and social partners to “improve investment climate, and engender economic growth and competitiveness amid the global and domestic crises and disruptions.” —LDF, GMA News