Employers have issued a strong call for urgent policy support to upskill workers, warning that automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping every sector and placing workers at greater risk of displacement.
During the 47th National Conference of Employers (NCE47) on Wednesday under the theme “Towards a Dynamic, Resilient, and Sustainable Future,” conference delegates approved resolutions urging stakeholders to prioritize continuing education, workforce training, social protection, and just transition strategies needed in the evolving workplace.
Employers acknowledged that these challenges intersect with ongoing disruptions caused by AI, climate change, and other structural issues affecting the country’s economic competitiveness.
The 47th NCE also called for the responsible and human-centered integration of AI and other emerging technologies into business operations.
Among the concerns raised were job displacement, skills mismatch, diversity and inclusion, business continuity, supply and value chain resilience, climate adaptation, and broader sustainability challenges.
Employers likewise pushed for a viable path for the platform economy and other emerging work arrangements to thrive by balancing workers’ protection with flexibility, innovation, and economic opportunity.
In his opening remarks, Employers of Confederation of he Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. identified the rise of AI and its impact on the workforce as one of the three critical issues shaping the future of work and business.
The other two issues, he said, are the emergence of the platform economy and evolving work arrangements, as well as the challenge of sustaining businesses amid persistent global disruptions.
“These are not peripheral conversations. They are at the very heart of what it means to lead a business — and a country — responsibly into the future,” he said.
Ortiz-Luis added that ECOP remains committed to upskilling its members to help them thrive in today’s volatile world of work.
Meanwhile, in his guest message, Jose T. Pardo, chairman of the Philippine Stock Exchange, stressed the urgency of investing in workers’ capabilities.
“Automation and AI are reshaping every sector. But here is the truth no one wants to say plainly: the workers most vulnerable to displacement are also the ones most vulnerable to inflation. They have the least buffer. If we do not lead their upskilling, we will eventually be managing their exit,” he said.
Despite the ongoing poly-crisis, Philippine employers said opportunities remain in the country’s young workforce, abundant natural resources, and deeper regional integration — provided that stakeholders and social partners pursue holistic policy reforms and adopt an all-of-society approach.
As the recognized voice of employers in government, ECOP reaffirmed its commitment to advocating policies that strengthen businesses, improve the investment climate, and promote economic growth and competitiveness amid global and domestic disruptions.
