“Good employee relations is vital in advancing employee welfare and participatory governance.” This was emphasized in a message delivered by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Karlo Nograles during the launch and ceremonial signing of the 2024 Rules and Regulations Governing the Exercise of the Right of Government Employees to Organize held on 29 April 2024 at the Justice Hall of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The 2024 Rules and Regulations is an integration of promulgated and published policy resolutions approved by the Public Sector Labor Management Council (PSLMC) over the years following the latest amendment in 2004. It includes amendments on conciliation services, effectivity of collective negotiation agreements, and recognition of national employees’ organizations.

“The promulgation of the 2024 Rules is a testament of the Council’s commitment to continuously improve and safeguard the exercise of the right to self-organization in the public sector. We recognize that the new rules and regulations may not be absolutely perfect, considering the dynamic environment that they will operate within. However, this acknowledgment should not deter us from actively engaging in shaping the trajectory of employee relations in the public sector,” stated Chairperson Nograles.

The rules also incorporate the latest policies on the functioning and administration of a public sector employee organization, establishment of employees’ organization transition group, merger and consolidation, change of name and modes of dissolution of employees’ organizations, determination of the sole and exclusive negotiating agent, dispute resolution and automatic accreditation of the winner in a certification election.

The event was graced by members of the Council including Department of Labor and Employment Secretary and Council Vice-Chair Bienvenido E. Laguesma; DOJ Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida as the representative of Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla; Department of Finance Undersecretary Nino Raymond B. Alvina as the representative of Secretary Ralph G. Recto; and Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Leo Angelo M. Larcia as the representative of Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

The 1987 Constitution guaranteed government employees the exercise of the right to self-organization. Executive Order No. 180 entitled “Providing Guidelines for the Exercise of the Right to Organize of Government Employees, Creating a Public Sector Labor-Management Council, and for Other Purposes” was signed on 1 June 1987. It authorized the Council to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the exercise of the right to self-organization in the public sector.

Through the years, the PSLMC and stakeholders have worked together to promote and safeguard the exercise of the right to self-organization in the government sector. Toward this end, public sector employees’ organizations have served as viable mechanisms in the shared goal of advancing, cultivating and sustaining unity and harmony in the workplace.