President Benigno S. Aquino III laid down on May 1, Labor Day, the government’s battle plan to address unemployment, underemployment and other labor issues.
In his speech keynoting the 110th Labor Day Celebration in Malacañang on Tuesday, the President said this plan was brought about after the number of those without jobs ballooned to 2.9-million with one million new graduates more joining the labor force every year.
The four strategies, according to the President are: 1) to maintain the number of jobs currently available; 2) to create more jobs; 3) to improve the job skills and knowledge of Filipinos; and 4) to implement labor laws in order to protect the workers.
The President said this plan, which aims to ensure that no Filipino is left behind as the country marches towards progress, is the result of the close consultations and dialogues between labor, employer and government held last year.
“Ang nagdaang taon ay minarkahan ng masinsinan at produktibong diyalogo sa pagitan ng manggagawa at ng negosyante, na buong-katapatan naman pong pinag-uugnay ng inyong pamahalaan,” the President said.
“Ang mga solusyong inilatag natin ngayon ay galing sa aktibong pakikilahok ng mga sektor; patunay po ito na kaya nating maunawaan ang isa’t isa,” he added.
The President thanked the Filipino people for their trust and confidence and assured them that his administration would continue to forge on to improve their lives.
“Ang hangarin ko po ay magpatuloy pa sana ang ating pag-uugnayan, kung saan nananaig ang katuwiran at pagdadamayan. Kung sabay-sabay po tayong sasagwan tungo sa iisang direksyon, tiyak na maaabot natin ang mga solusyong pangmatagalan,” the President said.
PRESIDENT orders wage boards to ‘find ways’
The President has ordered the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) to step up its consultations, dialogues and studies into the possibility of granting the workers and unions calls for increased pay, benefits, and, health care.
The President bared his instructions to the RTWPB in his speech on the occasion of the 110th Labor Day Celebration on Tuesday in Malacañang.
The President had earlier expressed apprehension at supporting the proposed P125 across the board wage increase saying it was counter productive and would raise prices on basic commodities and other services.
“Kaya nga po kailangan ng masusing usapan at pag-aaral sa pagtataas ng sahod, na dinadaan natin sa mga Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards. Inaapura ko na nga po ang kanilang mga konsultasyon sa mga unyon upang makapagbigay na tayo ng bagong wage order sa lalong madaling panahon,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also said that he wanted further studies into the issue of subcontracting, which he said was prone to abuse from employers.
He pointed out that House Bill No. 4853, which addresses subcontracting, may do more harm than good as it may cause 10.3-million Filipinos to loose their jobs should the law be passed.
The President likewise said he has instructed the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council to look into this.
“ Ang kailangan dito ay masusing paghimay sa kabuuang sitwasyon, kaya nga inatasan natin ang Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) na bumuo ng consensus upang mapalawak ang konsultasyon sa usaping ito,” the President said.
AQUINO ATTENDS DOLE JOB FAIR:
President Aquino also visited the 110th Labor Day and Livelihood Fairs at the World Trade Center in Pasay City which was organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in cooperation with other government agencies.
The President toured the booths of DOLE, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and other government agencies as well as companies participating on Tuesday’s job and livelihood fairs.
President Aquino also witnessed the signing of contracts and the awarding of less than P3 million cheques as assistance to livelihood beneficiaries.
The labor department organized the May 1 job and livelihood fairs to help job seekers, new graduates, returning and displaced overseas Filipino workers find jobs and livelihood.
The DOLE estimated that in the National Capital Region alone, over 100,000 jobs, both local and overseas, are being offered by close to 300 companies and corporations at the job and livelihood site in the World Trade Center.
Thousands of job opportunities are also up for grabs at the 55 simultaneous job and livelihood fair in different cities and provinces across the country.
Private companies participating in the job fair include Max’s Group of Companies, Globe Telecom, Sykes Asia, Asia Brewery, Banco de Oro, Suyen and McDonalds.
The government agencies offering pre-employment services include Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), National Statistics Office (NSO), PhilHealth, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The event, aimed at achieving the government’s vision of providing full, decent and productive employment for every Filipino, is part of the Aquino administration’s 16-point Social Contract with the Filipino People.
Joining the President were Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and TESDA Dir. Gen. Emmanuel Villanueva. (as/1:19pm)