September 24, 2026
Filipino workers stand to gain broader international job opportunities as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) pushes for global skills recognition and portability. The call to action was made during the WorldSkills Conference: Shaping a Skills-Driven Future in Shanghai, China, where global leaders and experts gathered to address shifting workforce demands. TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez joined other panelists in a session that examined how skills recognition frameworks can support cross-border mobility, lifelong learning, and labour-market relevance amid the growing shift toward skills-first approaches worldwide. “Skills recognition is becoming increasingly important as workers move across borders and industries look beyond traditional qualifications. We need systems that recognize what people know and can do, wherever and however those skills were acquired,” Sec. Kiko said. The discussion examined how national and international competency frameworks and standards can provide an overarching structure linking qualifications systems, skills taxonomies, digital and micro-credentials, and private sector engagement. These frameworks can help establish common references for recognizing competencies and supporting the portability of skills across countries and labour markets. The TESDA chief also emphasized the growing role of industry-led qualifications and private sector certifications, including the need to integrate these credentials into national frameworks while keeping them accessible to workers and learners. “As industry becomes more involved in defining and certifying skills, we also have to make sure that these opportunities remain accessible. Skills recognition should help open doors, not create additional barriers for those who need opportunities the most,” he said. The session also covered mutual recognition of qualifications, digital credentials, regional qualifications frameworks, and cross-border apprenticeship and work-based learning models. Participants shared approaches from different countries and discussed how these mechanisms can contribute to greater skills mobility and stronger links between training and employment. TESDA’s participation in the conference is part of its ongoing engagement with the global skills community to exchange knowledge, learn from international practices, and explore approaches to strengthen the country’s TVET system. The discussions also come as the Philippines participates in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, with 11 Filipino skilled youth competing in 10 skill areas against participants from around the world. Their participation provides an opportunity to benchmark Filipino skills against international standards and showcase the capabilities of the country’s skilled youth. Under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sec. Kiko, TESDA continues to advance skills development that responds to the needs of learners, workers, and industries while expanding opportunities for Filipinos in the global labour market. The TESDA chief was joined in the panel by Commissioner Cameron Baker, Chair of the South Australian Skills Commission; Elizabeth Warn, Head of Labour Mobility at the International Organization for Migration; Zhou Hanmin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and President of the Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association; and, Diego Andrés Lopez Garro, WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative for the Americas. TESDA’s participation in the conference is part of its ongoing engagement with the global skills community to exchange knowledge, learn from international practices, and explore approaches to strengthen the country’s TVET system and expand opportunities for Filipinos in the global labor market. TESDA isinusulong ang pagkilala sa kasanayan para sa mas malawak na oportunidad sa trabaho sa ibang bansa Isinusulong ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) ang mas malawak na pagkilala sa kasanayan ng mga manggagawa upang mapadali ang paggalaw at paghahanap ng trabaho ng mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa. Tinalakay ang usaping ito sa WorldSkills Conference: Shaping a Skills-Driven Future sa Shanghai, China, na dinaluhan ng mga lider at eksperto mula sa iba't ibang bansa upang talakayin ang nagbabagong pangangailangan ng workforce. Nakibahagi si TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez bilang panelist sa isang sesyon na tumalakay sa papel ng pagkilala sa kasanayan sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, patuloy na pagkatuto, at pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng labor market habang lumalawak ang paggamit ng skills-first approach sa buong mundo. “Skills recognition is becoming increasingly important as workers move across borders and industries look beyond traditional qualifications. We need systems that recognize what people know and can do, wherever and however those skills were acquired,” ani Sec. Kiko. Tinalakay sa sesyon kung paano makatutulong ang mga pambansa at pandaigdigang competency framework at pamantayan sa pag-uugnay ng mga sistema ng kwalipikasyon, skills taxonomy, digital at micro-credentials, at mga sertipikasyon mula sa pribadong sektor. Maaari itong magsilbing karaniwang batayan sa pagkilala sa kakayahan ng isang manggagawa at makatulong upang mas madaling tanggapin ang kanyang mga kasanayan sa iba't ibang bansa at labor market. Binigyang-diin din ni Sec. Kiko ang lumalaking papel ng industriya sa pagtukoy at pagpapatunay ng mga kasanayan, kabilang ang mga qualification at certification na ibinibigay ng pribadong sektor. Aniya, mahalagang maisama ang mga ito sa mga pambansang sistema ng kwalipikasyon habang tinitiyak na nananatiling bukas at abot-kaya ang mga oportunidad para sa mga manggagawa at learners. “As industry becomes more involved in defining and certifying skills, we also have to make sure that these opportunities remain accessible. Skills recognition should help open doors, not create additional barriers for those who need opportunities the most,” aniya. Tinalakay rin sa sesyon ang pagkilala sa qualifications mula sa ibang bansa, digital credentials, regional qualifications frameworks, at mga modelo ng apprenticeship at work-based learning na maaaring isagawa sa iba't ibang bansa. Nagbahagi ang mga kalahok ng kanilang mga karanasan at pamamaraan kung paano mapapalakas ang skills mobility at ang ugnayan ng training at employment. Bahagi ang paglahok ng TESDA sa conference ng patuloy nitong pakikipag-ugnayan sa global skills community upang makapagpalitan ng kaalaman at matuto mula sa mga pandaigdigang pamamaraan sa skills development. Layunin din nitong tuklasin ang mga maaaring iangkop na hakbang upang higit na mapalakas ang TVET system ng bansa. Napapanahon ang mga talakayang ito habang kinakatawan ng 11 kabataang Pilipino ang bansa sa WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 sa 10 skill areas. Nakikipagtagisan sila sa mga skilled youth mula sa iba't ibang bansa, habang ipinakikita ang kakayahan ng mga Pilipino at inihahambing ang kanilang kasanayan sa mga pandaigdigang pamantayan. Sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at Sec. Kiko, patuloy na isinusulong ng TESDA ang skills development na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral, manggagawa, at industriya, at nagbubukas ng mas maraming oportunidad para sa mga Pilipino sa pandaigdigang labor market. Kasama ni Sec. Kiko sa panel sina Commissioner Cameron Baker, Chair ng South Australian Skills Commission; Elizabeth Warn, Head of Labour Mobility ng International Organization for Migration; Zhou Hanmin, Member ng Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee at President ng Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association; at Diego Andrés Lopez Garro, WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative for the Americas.
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