In a historic stride towards promoting decent work and strengthening labour market governance, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is on the cusp of finalizing a comprehensive labour code designed to foster social justice and sustainable development across the region.
The proposed legal framework, known as the Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code (BLEC), is set to institutionalize an inclusive, rights-based approach to labour governance, serving as a cornerstone for BARMM’s ongoing peacebuilding initiatives. The BLEC specifically aims to tackle persistent labour market challenges within BARMM, including high rates of informal and seasonal work, child labour, and youth migration driven by limited decent work opportunities.
“BARMM is the result of a peace process that spanned decades. I have personally witnessed how fragile peace can be and how conflict has deeply affected the lives of people, especially the most vulnerable,” stated Member of Parliament (MP) Alindatu Pagayao, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor and Employment. “Conflict not only takes life — it deprives people of the right to dream, right to live with dignity, and right to decent work.”
MP Pagayao underscored the BLEC’s pivotal role in the region’s transition. “As we move into this crucial period, we carry the responsibility of upholding moral governance. We are tasked with building frameworks that will transform the gains of peace into concrete and lasting reforms. One of these is the BLEC.”
The BLEC has been designated a priority legislative measure by BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua, aligning with the leadership’s shared legislative calendar as the region prepares for its first-ever parliamentary elections on October 13, 2025. Its finalization and enactment will underscore BARMM’s commitment to decent work, participatory governance, and lasting peace.
A critical three-day dialogue and writeshop on the BLEC, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), is currently underway in Manila from July 22 to 24, 2025. This intensive session marks the final step before the code’s submission to the plenary.
Originally filed by MP Romeo Sema and refiled in the Second Parliament in 2022, the BLEC has undergone extensive consultations, public hearings, and rigorous technical reviews. The ongoing dialogue aims to ensure the draft’s full alignment with constitutional and International Labour Standards, resolve any remaining technical issues, and build strong consensus among legislators, labour experts, employers, and civil society stakeholders.
“The BLEC stands as an important milestone for BARMM. It is more than a legal instrument; it is a statement of commitment to decent work, social justice, and inclusive growth for all workers and employers in the region,” commented Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines. “Without a local labour code, the region cannot attract investments, build institutions, or achieve industrialization to create jobs. And without jobs, lasting peace will remain out of reach.”
The ILO has played a pivotal role in the BLEC’s development, providing technical guidance and facilitating dialogues among key partners and stakeholders, a journey that began with a comprehensive needs assessment of the region’s labour administration and inspection system.
The WFD has also significantly contributed to the ongoing dialogue and the write-shop. “We reaffirm our commitment to standing alongside the Bangsamoro Government, in support of its ongoing transition towards a more inclusive, accountable, and democratic future for the Bangsamoro people,” said Sittie Almira Amolan, Programme Coordinator of WFD Bangsamoro. “We trust that the process will be truly responsive to the region’s socioeconomic force, our labour sector, and together we will be able to shape the BLEC that not only protects the rights of workers, but advances the principles of social justice and inclusive development.”
The ongoing dialogue and write-shop are expected to yield a final draft of the BLEC and a comprehensive documentation report of the deliberations and revisions. Once enacted, the BLEC will establish a robust foundation for stronger labour protections, improved livelihoods, and a more resilient, prosperous, and peaceful Bangsamoro.
