May 1, 2024 marks the 122nd Labor Day in the Philippines.
It was May 1, 1903, when the Filipinos celebrated Labor Day in the Philippines. The first labor group, Union Obrera Democratica, was behind the history-altering movement. Demanding absolute freedom from American capitalism and imperialism, thousands of workers marched down from Plaza Moriones in Tondo to Malacañang that day.
Formerly known as the Union Obrera Democratica, the labor group was founded by Isabelo Delos Reyes and Herminigildo Cruz on February 2, 1902. The union championed the rights of the labor force during the American occupation in the Philippines.
Unfortunately, Delos Reyes was jailed in August 1902 for sedition, rebellion, and conspiring to raise labor wages. Dominador Gomez took the helm afterward and led the first Labor Day celebration on May 1.
Since that day, Filipino workers continue to struggle for fair wages and better working practices.
Today, the celebration of Labor Day in the Philippines is not just about parades but also rallies and demonstrations to call for a just and livable minimum wage, among others.
The labor unions in the Philippines are recognized under the Labor Code of the Philippines, allowing them to have the freedom to self-organize. They are raising awareness of the usual concerns of workers such as wages, an hour of work, and other legal rights they are entitled to have.
These labor groups are also legitimate entities negotiating the terms and conditions of employment—through the process of collective bargaining agreement—with the employers.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is the largest confederation of labor federations in the Philippines with 480,000 members. Another prominent labor union is the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
Meanwhile, the TUCP is appealing for a dialogue with President Marcos Jr. and to meet with the labor sector to discuss the workers problems.
In a statement, the TUCP asked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) over the absence of any dialogue, especially during the annual May 1 celebration, between workers and Marcos.
The DOLE program for May 1 should have focused instead on letting workers’ voices be heard by the President on what urgently needs to be done to address the plight of the Filipino workers, the TUCP said.
“It is in the spirit of continuing social dialogue that the TUCP is dumbfounded by the lack of labor dialogue even just once a year on workers’ day, particularly, this May 1st. It has been two years into the Administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and there has been no labor dialogue set even on the scheduled Labor Day Celebration in Malacañang this year. We therefore ask DOLE: ‘What is there to mark and remember the 122nd Labor Day with?’ Celebrating Labor Day would be a hollow ritual without addressing or even listening to the struggling workers’ pleas,” the TUCP stressed.
The TUCP said that ignoring the Philippine labor movement could derail President Ferdinand R Marcos, Jr., pitch to the world for the Philippines as an investment destination considering that both foreign trade and foreign direct investments are inextricably linked to the clear and categorical observance of international labor standards.
It should be noted that the country has been consistently ranked globally as one of the ten worst countries for workers. The country’s observance of ILO Convention No.87 on Freedom of Association has been under continuing scrutiny internationally since 2009. The latest January 2023 ILO High-Level Tripartite Mission highlighted persistent violations and violence directed against the Filipino workers’ freedom of association, all done with impunity.
Also, the TUCP seeks the House of Representatives to pass several house bills pending before congress and these include:
HOUSE BILL NO. 1512: SECURITY OF TENURE (SOT) ACT that seeks to end the pandemic of ENDO contractualization in the country and to restore security of tenure as the norm in labor relations, rather than the exemption.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1518: UNION FORMATION ACT aims to strengthen the right of workers to self-organize by lowering the requirements for union registration in response to the ILO’s long-standing observation of excessive registration requirements on workers’ organizations in the country.
HOUSE BILL NO. 5536: ASSUMPTION OF JURISDICTION ACT proposes to limit the power of the DOLE Secretary to assume jurisdiction over labor disputes by changing the operative phrase from the overly broad “industries indispensable to the national interest” to “industries providing essential services” as defined by the ILO.
HOUSE BILL NO. 7043: WORKERS’ RIGHT TO STRIKE ACT removes dismissal and imprisonment as a penalty for illegal strikes and lockouts because these are too harsh and disproportionate to the seriousness of the violation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will set up 94 job fair sites across the country in celebration of the 122nd Labor Day.
The Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) said the job fairs featuring local and overseas employment opportunities will be held in almost all regions on Labor Day.
“DOLE is presenting a huge opportunity for all jobseekers. We will be conducting job fairs in 94 sites across the country. Come and participate in the job fair nearest you,” it added.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said Kadiwa centers would also be brought closer to Filipino workers and job seekers on May 1.
“With at least one job fair and Kadiwa per province, more workers and job seekers and even consumers will have access to employment opportunities and affordable products as DOLE conducts these activities on May 1,” Laguesma said in a statement.
The DOLE said 1,901 participating employers would offer up to 154,470 jobs.
Production workers, customer service representatives, cashiers, baggers, sales clerks, laborers, carpenters, painters, microfinance officers, financial advisers, service crew, cooks, waiters, truck drivers, nurses, property consultants and tutors are the top vacancies this year.
The DOLE advised job seekers to prepare their application requirements such as resumé or curriculum vitae, diploma, transcript of records and certificate of employment for those formerly employed.
Job seekers and consumers can access affordable products from 1,015 enterprises and 2,414 sellers in 92 “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” sites nationwide, the biggest to date.
The activities aim to honor Filipino workers as the nation commemorates Labor Day with the theme, “Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Manggagawang Pilipino, Kabalikat at Kasama sa Pag-asenso.”
On the other hand, the government is committed to pushing more strategies that will further boost labor and improve employment conditions.
“Quality jobs need to be created in sectors with current labor supply constraints, as well as in other higher value-added sectors like BPO, IT, construction, accounting, and healthcare, among others,” the Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said.
The DOF will ensure the efficient implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act to attract more strategic investments into the country. It is working on amending the law to further address investor concerns and tailor fit incentives.
With its high multiplier effect on the economy, the government will vigorously implement the President’s Build Better More program to generate more jobs and investments.
The DOF will ensure the efficient execution of the 2024 national budget through timely implementation of projects to avoid government underspending, allowing it to hold fast to the commitment to delivering high-yielding infrastructure projects.
The government will likewise strengthen the implementation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code to bring in more capital that will cut infrastructure backlog while freeing budget space for social services and generating jobs that boost domestic consumption. -
By Vito Barcelo
