Decent Work Practices Incorporated in the Work Arrangements and Work Conditions of Mountain Guides in Barangay Cuyambay, Tanay, Rizal

Josephine Prudente; Vincent Teodosio

doi:10.58870/berj.v11i1.99

Authors

Josephine Prudente College of Arts and Sciences, San Beda University, Manila, Philippines
Vincent Teodosio Office of the VP for Development, University of the Philippines, Diliman

Keywords:

Informal Workers, Decent Work, Employment Opportunity, Rights at Work, Social Protection, Social Dialogue

Abstract

The four Decent Work Pillars of the International Labour Organization (ILO) - Employment Opportunity, Rights at Work, Social Protection, and Social Dialogue - were introduced to establish a balanced, integrated approach to addressing social issues in the world of work. Tanay is a municipality in Rizal composed of 20 barangays. Barangay Cuyambay offers popular hiking and camping services to local and foreign tourists, and informal mountain guides work there. Despite their critical role in economic development and in promoting mountain-based destinations, these workers lack formal employment, enforceable rights at work, social protection, and strong workers’ representation, which are key parameters of decent work. The study analyzed work arrangements and conditions using the decent work pillars to translate the aims of SDG#8 for mountain guides. A descriptive design with purposive sampling was used to understand respondents’ work experiences. Thematic content analysis was used to examine the transcribed lived experiences of 35 mountain guides and to empirically test the researchers’ proposed schema. Findings reveal a structural paradox in Barangay Cuyambay’s ecotourism sector. In line with the ILO’s Decent Work Framework, the experiences of mountain guides revealed a deep conflict. On the one hand, workers report profound psychological fulfillment and general satisfaction with their jobs. On the other hand, they face extreme economic insecurity, systemic exposure to physical hazards, and an absence of institutional social security nets. The development of the Mountain Guide Decent Work Schema (MGDEWS) aims to address these deficits and help workers reclaim their influence in the tourism industry.

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