PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday kicked off his first Labor Day celebration as chief executive, a day ahead of the actual event, by recognizing the difficulties being faced by workers amid the effects of soaring inflation, transport issues and the lingering coronavirus disease pandemic, and committed to address these issues and continue prioritizing the welfare of the labor sector.
The President, who flew to the United States yesterday for an official visit, which includes a meeting with American President Joe Biden, emphasized the importance of commemorating Labor Day as he recognized the greatness and heroism of the workers as well as their contributions and being the backbone of the Philippine economy.
“I am happy to be with you today to celebrate Labor Day. This is the first time that it would be held under my presidency… Today, we recognize the greatness and heroism of the Filipino workers: the backbone of our economy,” he said.
Marcos said he and his administration recognize the sufferings and plight of the workers, especially amid the developments in the world and the lingering coronavirus disease pandemic.
He said he is aware of the plight of the workers burdened by the high prices of commodities, those who suffer in the workplace, those who lack social protection, including coverage by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System, and those who lack access to basic services, among others.
He said he is committed to addressing issues and concerns confronting them and vowed to continue prioritizing the welfare of Filipino workers by providing the vital opportunities to achieve their full potential.
“I am aware of all these. My administration and I are closely monitoring this and doing all we can to address them. We are doing everything to improve the situation of the workers in the country,” the President said.
“Rest assured that my administration will never waiver in addressing the plight of the workers and labor industry. As your President, I vow that the protection of the workers will continue to be a priority of my administration,” he added.
Marcos has been criticized for going abroad on his first Labor Day event and for his alleged disregard of the plight and demands of what the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) described as the “pitiful worker” who either earn a meager salary, lack permanent jobs, or whose rights are violated.
EXPEDITING LABOR CASES
Following the President’s attendance in the Labor Day celebration, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on behalf of Marcos Executive Order No. 23 which creates an inter-agency committee that would strengthen the coordination and facilitate the resolution of labor cases in the country, as well as reinforce and protect the freedom of association and right to organize of workers.
The creation of the committee stemmed from the concerns of various groups on the Philippines’ implementation of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 87, “in view of reported incidents of acts of violence, extra-judicial killings, harassment, suppression of trade union rights and red-tagging allegedly perpetrated by State agents, targeting in particular, certain trade unions and workers’ organizations.”
The EO states that the Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers will be chaired by the Executive Secretary, with the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment as its vice chair.
The members are the Department of Justice, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, Department of Trade and Industry, National Security Council and the PNP.
The EO added that, when necessary, the Inter-Agency Committee may request the attendance or participation of other relevant agencies, such as the Civil Service Commission and the Commission of Human Rights.
“Each of the concerned agencies shall designate a focal unit or office within the agency, to be headed by an official with a rank not lower than that of an Undersecretary, which shall monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation and progress of agency action plans, initiatives relating to freedom of association and rights to organize and to collective bargaining,” the EO added.
Among the tasks of the Inter-Agency Committee is to consolidate and evaluate all comprehensive reports that contain findings and recommendations by concerned agencies to be submitted to the President.
It shall also develop a roadmap containing the priority areas of action, tangible deliverables, clear responsibilities and appropriate timeframes. The roadmap shall be subject to regular review and should consider the consolidated reports and recommendations from the concerned agencies and inputs from other relevant stakeholders.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma confirmed that an EO creating the inter-agency body to be headed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has been signed.
“An EO was signed yesterday addressing the recommendations of the ILO high level mission for a presidential body to be established to address the issues and concerns of the labor leaders relative to freedom of association,” said Laguesma.
“We expect this as the beginning of the concerted action of the government to address the long-standing issues related to freedom of association,” he added.
Laguesma said preparatory meetings are still necessary considering the EO was only signed last Saturday.
“There will still be synchronization among agencies. But the directive of the President is to expedite the actions to be undertaken,” said Laguesma.
VARIOUS AIDS
To kick off the 121st Labor Day celebration, the President led the launch of a Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para Sa Manggagawa outlet at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City which featured 150 businesses and sellers. Kadiwa provides the public with affordable agriculture commodities and other products.
Marcos said over 50,000 jobs are also available nationwide, around 12,000 of which in Metro Manila, in the job fair that was also held at the SMX Convention Center.
He also led the distribution of various assistance packages from participating agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DOLE distributed wages and awarded livelihood projects amounting to P1.29 billion that benefitted 229,823 beneficiaries nationwide. Of the number, 20,165 in the National Capital Region received more than P162.23 million.
The DOLE’s assistance programs include the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD), DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), Government Internship Program (GIP), and Special Program for Employment Students (SPES).
Marcos also awarded symbolic keys to the winners of the five socialized house and lot packages during the event, and witnessed the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) between DOLE and government agencies.
Under the MOU on expanding employment opportunities between DOLE and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), jobs would be provided under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program; while the under the MOU on the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, the DOLE, DA, DTI, DSWD, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall be involved in the conduct of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo nationwide.
Under the MOA on enterprise development and livelihood assistance, DOLE and DTI collaborates to extend productivity orientation, training, and technical assistance to MSMEs; while the MOA on Promoting Industrial Peace in Special Economic Zones aims to strengthen the inter-agency collaboration among the DOLE, DTI, and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) on labor and employment concerns in ecozones, especially in the areas of labor education, employment facilitation, dispute prevention and settlement, and compliance with labor laws, social legislation, and occupational safety and health.
COPS DEPLOYED
Nearly 60,000 policemen will be deployed throughout the country to ensure the safe and peaceful celebration of Labor Day today, the PNP said.
“The PNP will assist in all lawful and peaceful activities in commemoration of Labor Day,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said.
Acorda expressed confidence that the deployment of 59,587 police personnel will be enough to ensure order and security during the Labor Day celebrations.
He reminded the policemen to strictly observe the policy of maximum tolerance, respect for human rights and adherence to police operational procedures.
Acorda also urged the public to be vigilant and alert at all times, noting that some groups may take advantage of the situation to sow chaos and violence.
In a statement, PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Redrico Maranan said the policemen will be deployed “to ensure public safety and peace” during the Labor Day celebrations.
Maranan said the PNP has coordinated with other government agencies “to ensure that the celebration will be carried out peacefully.”
“The PNP will also be strictly implementing the operational guidelines to effectively cover various aspects of police operations, including traffic management, civil disturbance management, anti-criminality, and counter-terrorism,” said Maranan.
Maranan appealed to the public “to cooperate with the authorities and follow the security protocols in place during the event.”
In an interview last Saturday, PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said part of the mission of the policemen is to monitor freedom parks where Labor Day protests may be held.
DOUBLE PAY
Workers who will report for duty today will be entitled to double pay, based on the pay rules set by the DOLE.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 12 – 2023, Laguesma said that for work done during the regular holiday, the employer shall pay a total of 200 percent of the employee’s wage for that day for the first eight hours, and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day for overtime work.
For work done during a regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the basic wage of 200 percent and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for overtime work.
If the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage for that day.
Proclamation No. 90 declared Labor Day on May 1 as a regular holiday.
WAGE PETITION
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-National Capital Region (NCR) is set to hold deliberations on the wage petitions that have been filed.
In an interview at the sidelines of the Labor Day Job Fair in Pasay City, NCR wage board chairperson Sarah Mirasol said they are already set to act on the wage petitions this May.
“We will act on the petition this May. We will evaluate it,” said Mirasol. “It’s part of the agenda for our May board meeting.”
Asked if this means that workers in Metro Manila can expect a wage order this month, Mirasol said: “We will set the schedule for consultation. We will follow the process.”
The Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa filed a wage petition last December 5, 2022 seeking a P100 wage increase in Metro Manila while the Unity for Wage Increase Now filed a wage petition asking for a P1,141 minimum wage rate in Metro Manila last March 21.
Metro Manila’s current minimum wage rate stands at P570.
In a separate interview, Laguesma assured the public that all regional wage boards are already moving to review the wage rates.
“The process is already rolling and moving. The wage boards are hastening their deliberation so that they can respond to the wage petitions,” said Laguesma.
Aside from the wage petitions in Metro Manila, six other wage hike bids have been filed in three other wage boards.
For Calabarzon, wage petitions were filed by the Organisasyon ng mga Manggagawa sa EMI (P100) and the Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (P280).
In Western Visayas, salary hike bids were filed by the United Labor – Western Visayas (P100) and the Iloilo Pepsi Cola Workers Independent Union (P100).
And in Central Visayas, the wage petitions were filed by the Cebu Labor Coalition et al (P292.50) and the Partido Manggagawa et al (P100).
GO OUT, APPLY FOR JOBS
After being confined to online job fairs in recent years due to the coronavirus disease pandemic, the DOLE urged all jobseekers to attend the simultaneous job fairs scheduled today, Monday, across the country.
In an interview during the Labor Day Job Fair at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, DOLE Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Añover said: “We highly encourage everybody to go out of your homes and go to your respective job fair locations.”
He said potential employers would be able to properly assess the potential of the jobseekers.
“It is not actually just employers looking for employees. It should also be jobseekers looking for their employers,” Añover noted.
Including the job fair at the SMX Convention Center yesterday, a total of 126,273 job vacancies are up for grabs in the face-to-face job fairs being participated in by 1,286 employers nationwide.
Among the top industries are business process outsourcing, manufacturing, retail and sales, financial and insurance activities, and accommodation and food service.
The top job vacancies, on the other hand, are for customer service representatives; production workers/operators; sales agents/clerks, promodizers, and store clerks; financial consultants; and food server, dealer, and barista. — With Gerard Naval, Victor Reyes and Christian Oineza
