President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, February 7, met with labor leaders in Malacañan.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III introduced each of the labor groups’ representatives to the President and told them to speak on their group’s behalf regarding the issues that plague the labor sector.
President Duterte, for his part, sent his warm regards to the labor leaders and assured them that the government will do its part to forwarding labor rights.
Included in the agenda were issues related to contractualization, wage setting, government cash subsidy, workers’ representation in tripartite bodies, recruitment and facilitation fees, and freedom of association in economic zones.
Representatives from several labor groups such as the Kilusang Mayo Uno, Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition, Associated Labor Unions, Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Partido Manggagawa, National Labor Union, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, National Confederation of Labor, among others, comprised the bulk of the attendees during the dialogue.
Meanwhile, officials from key government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DoF), and Department of Budget Management (DBM) were also present.
Labor groups have earlier called on the President to end contractualization through the issuance of an executive order.
The said EO, according to the labor groups, would give workers security of tenure, self-organization, collective bargaining and peaceful concerted activities as mandated by the Constitution. (PND)
