Workshop set for would-be exporters to Europe

By Bong Villacruz

NAGA CITY ---Some 20 company heads or their representatives based in this city and Bicol have been invited to attend a one-day workshop that is meant to pilot test the International Labor Organization (ILO) self-assessment tools and train selected entrepreneurs on their use and provide them assistance in addressing gaps in their compliance to labor standards and international frameworks.

The workshop, to be held on December 18 at the boardroom of The Avenue Plaza here is designed for businessmen and entrepreneurs who might be interested in exporting their products to European countries.

The workshop is being brought here in Bicol by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) in pursuance of its project, “Promoting a Culture of Compliance to Labour Standards through Social Dialogue among MSMEs” with the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Clarine Palomares-Tobias, ECOP Bicol President said the project aims to raise the awareness of employers on the requirements of the European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (EU-GSP+), develop tools that will enable them to assess their level of compliance to its various standards, and take action on the gaps.

“We are also hoping that the participants to this helpful workshop are the owners or decision makers in their respective businesses,” she added.

Joe Perez, Ecop Bicol Executive Director and Export Consultant of J. Emmanuel Pastries, which is an exporter of pili products in Asia and the USA and Canada, disclosed that the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) is supporting ECOP in this endeavor as the project is aligned with the latter’s objective of promoting the growth and development of MSMEs.

Tobias said no fees will be charged to those invited to attend the workshop. Meals and a modest allowance will be provided to cover the cost of their transportation coming to and from the venue.