ECOP and ITCILO bring AI to life: a chatbot that speaks policy
On 15 April 2025, something new went live in the Philippines:
a smart, human-friendly AI chatbot, co-created by the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) — one of the constituents representing Employers.
This chatbot isn’t just a digital tool.
It’s a new way to support employers with timely, accurate, and accessible knowledge about labour and social policy in the Philippines.
A real need, a bold solution
Employers were asking a clear question:
“How can we get the right answers on labour policy—without digging through files or waiting for helpdesk replies?”
The solution was developed through a close partnership between the Employers' Activities Programme (ACTEMP) at the ITCILO and ECOP:
- A chatbot trained on ECOP’s official documentation
- Based on advanced Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
- Designed for 24/7 access from any device
- Tested with users and launched in its first version in April 2025
The technology behind it
At the core of this innovation lies the combination of two cutting-edge components:
ChatGPT-based natural language processing and a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) framework.
The chatbot doesn't rely on static or generic AI answers. Instead, it:
- Uses a custom-built database of ECOP’s internal documentation
- Retrieves relevant excerpts in real time to back every response with verifiable sources
- Ensures cybersecurity and data integrity, with no user data retained or learned
- Is easily scalable and adaptable to new content and user needs
Figure 1. Based on the ITCILO project, the AI—chatbot provides natural-language answers based on ChatGPT and a RAG module that retrieves information from a database of documents. The yellow arrows on the left show the steps towards Internal knowledge database building and indexing; the grey arrows on the right show the steps in the query process.
The result is an AI system that delivers context-specific answers that are both accurate and transparent — bridging the gap between institutional knowledge and everyday queries.
What makes it innovative?
- Fast: Instant answers to complex queries
- Reliable: Every response is backed by trusted ECOP documents
- User-friendly: No training required, just natural language questions
- Secure: Hosted by the ITCILO, with a future plan for migration to ECOP’s domain
“We didn’t just build a chatbot.
We built a smarter, faster, and more equitable way to access institutional knowledge.”
From pilot to long-term impact
Initially rolled out to a core group of ECOP members, the chatbot is part of a broader vision:
to transform ECOP’s helpdesk into a digital-first knowledge platform, powered by AI and designed to grow with the needs of its members.
Team: Dani Reyes, Emanuel Bechis, Maria Vittoria Franceschelli, Rachida Zingara, Sandro Pettineo