MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Labor Day ordered the wage policy making bodies of the government to immediately review and adjust the wages of workers in the country.
Taking into consideration the impact of inflation to the labor sector, the President instructed the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards to initiate a timely review of the minimum wage rates in their respective regions.
This should be done within 60 days prior to the anniversary of their latest wage order, the Chief Executive said during the commemoration of the 122nd Labor Day at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday.
At the same time, President Marcos asked the National Wages and Productivity Commission to review its rules to ensure that the Boards can maintain a regular and predictable schedule of wage review, issuance, and effectivity to reduce uncertainty and enhance fairness for all stakeholders.
He said such reviews and adjustments can help cushion the impact on workers of the increases in prices of basic goods.
Relatedly, the President called on Congress to enact laws to uplift the condition of Filipino workers.
“I call on Congress to pass laws that will support the attainment of our jobs creation agenda, including the Enterprise-based Education and Training Program law, the Revised Apprenticeship Program Act, and the CREATE MORE law or the law on Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy,” President Marcos said.
President Marcos earlier signed into law Republic Act No. 11962, or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act on September 27, 2023, which aims to address unemployment, underemployment, and other challenges in the labor market.
On March 12 this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) approved the implementing rules and regulations of the law. The Trabaho Para sa Bayan-Interagency Council, led by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), has been tasked to develop the country’s master plan for employment generation and recovery.
To cushion the impact of inflation, the government provided emergency employment to 5.66 million beneficiaries through the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) from July 2022 to February 2024.
Some 167,065 beneficiaries were also incorporated to livelihood programs under the ILP, while 429,133 beneficiaries received assistance from the Employees’ Compensation Program.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Program (Tesda) enrolled 2.65 million individuals under its reskilling and upskilling program. Some 1.43 million individuals were also assessed, and 1.36 million were certified.
To ensure job security, the DOLE allocated PhP9.18 billion in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for its programs aimed at increasing employability. (PND)
