DOLE Issues Revised Rules on Tripartism in Labor Relations

On March 31, 2026, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Department Order No. 256-26, establishing the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10395, otherwise known as the Tripartism Law. The issuance amends Article 290 (formerly Article 275) of Presidential Decree No. 442, or the Labor Code of the Philippines. 

The IRR establishes the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) as the main consultative body for tripartite advisement in the formulation and implementation of labor, employment, and social policies. The NTIPC is chaired by the Secretary of Labor and Employment (SOLE), with the Undersecretary serving as alternate Chairperson. It is composed of 20 representatives each from the labor and employer sectors, designated by the President for a term of three years, subject to replacement or recall by their nominating organizations. The NTIPC is tasked with advising the SOLE on labor policies and legislation, monitoring compliance with international conventions, acting as the High-Level Tripartite Monitoring Body on the application of international labor standards, and assisting DOLE agencies in resolving industrial disputes.

At the regional level, the IRR establishes Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Councils (RTIPCs) in every region, together with a Regional Tripartite Monitoring Body (RTMB). Each RTIPC is chaired by the DOLE Regional Director or, in their absence, the Assistant Regional Director, and consists of 15 representatives from the region’s most representative labor and employer organizations. Local municipal, city, and provincial Tripartite Industrial Peace Councils are likewise established and are chaired by the Assistant Regional Director or the head of the relevant Provincial or Field Office.

The RTMB operates as a permanent subcommittee of the NTIPC and focuses on the application of international labor standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize. It is chaired by the Regional Director and includes three (3) representatives each from the worker and employer sectors, together with government representatives from the Departments of Justice (DOJ), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and National Defense (DND), including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Security Council (NSC), Philippine National Police (PNP), Civil Service Commission (CSC), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Its functions include verifying allegations of threats or harassment against trade unionists, processing complaints, and monitoring regional violations for the support of the NTIPC.

The IRR also allows the Chairperson of the NTIPC or the RTIPC to constitute Industry Tripartite Councils (ITCs) considering (1) key employment generators (KEGs) of the region, (2) industries critical contributions to the economy, or (3) export-oriented industries. National ITCs may be constituted by the SOLE following consultation with the relevant industry and the NTIPC, while regional ITCs may be created through RTIPC resolutions. National ITCs are chaired by the SOLE or an authorized ex officio chairperson, while regional, provincial, and municipal ITCs are chaired by the DOLE Regional Director or an authorized representative. ITCs consist of equal numbers of worker and employer representatives from the most representative organizations in the relevant industry, with up to ten members per sector. Their functions include reviewing the effects of policies to the industries concerned, advising the SOLE, assisting government agencies in identifying industries with growth potential or those susceptible to labor disputes, and adopting industry-specific action plans.

The IRR further establishes a structured process for determining the “most representative organizations” eligible to nominate sectoral representatives. Nominees are selected during a meeting convened by DOLE. Nominating organizations must be registered with the DOLE Bureau of Labor Relations (DOLE-BLR), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or another government regulatory body, and must demonstrate a substantial and verifiable membership base and active sectoral representation. Where no such representative organizations exist in a locality or industry, representatives are selected from sitting members of Labor Management Councils (LMCs) in establishments with the largest workforces. In the absence of LMCs, representatives are selected directly from establishments employing the largest number of workers. This mechanism is intended to ensure that tripartite participation remains representative, transparent, and compliant with the revised rules.