CALAMBA CITY — The Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) research team successfully concluded its regional fieldwork for its study titled, "Workers' Perspectives on Company Practices in Labor Standards Compliance and Labor-Management Relations." The final leg of data gathering took place at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office IV-A in Calamba City, Laguna, from 23 to 25 June 2025.

As part of their fieldwork, the ILS team conducted a courtesy visit to Assistant Regional Director Marion S. Sevilla of the DOLE Regional Office IV-A. The data-gathering activity was spearheaded by Lyra Cosette B. Dayego, Labor and Employment Officer III from the Labor and Social Relations Research Division. She was joined by team members Marc Raphael A. Peñaredondo, Labor and Employment Officer III, and Yvette Marie M. Manahan, Labor and Employment Officer II, both from the Advocacy and Publications Division.

During the session, 65 workers from the CALABARZON Region participated as survey respondents, with equal representation from both organized and unorganized labor groups. These guided surveys were designed to gather their insights on crucial aspects such as labor standards, labor relations, grievance mechanisms, employee development, and potential partnership opportunities.

The research team conducted fieldwork in several DOLE Regional Offices, including Region XI, Region VII, Region VI, the National Capital Region (NCR), and Region IV-A. Initial findings from the study reveal that workers are sharing valuable views on labor rights and have expressed significant interest in receiving training and skill-building opportunities from their companies. The initial results also indicate workers' awareness of and attention to fair labor standards, as well as a desire for stronger labor relations and more accessible grievance mechanisms and procedures.

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