VARIOUS activities were conducted at Malacañang in celebration of Labor Day— led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) together with other agencies.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos ordered the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) to initiate a timely review of minimum wage rates in each region.
Marcos issued the directive during his speech at the ‘Labor Day with the President’ event at the Palace on May 1, 2024.
The RTWPB were given 60 days to review before the anniversary of their latest wage order.
He also mandated the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to review its policies.
This would allow the boards to maintain a regular and predictable schedule for wage reviews, issuance, and effectiveness to reduce uncertainty and improve fairness for all stakeholders.
These directives are said to be in response to the inflationary effects, especially on workers.
On the call for a review of minimum wage rates, Sectoral Representative of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sector, Edwin Bustillos, explained the necessity of the directive, especially in considering the rising prices of basic commodities.
Malacañang celebrates 122nd Labor Day Anniversary
Alongside Labor Day, the upcoming completion of the Workers Rehabilitation Center, designed to aid workers and soldiers coping with disabilities or injuries stemming from their work, was also announced.
During the event at the Palace, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the Workers Rehabilitation Center (WRC) Site Development Plan was presented to the Chief Executive.
The 50-hectare Workers Rehabilitation Center will be built in Tanay, Rizal.
DOLE Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma said the project was made possible through the collaboration of various agencies such as the Departments of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Labor and Employment DOLE), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tanay.
Alongside Labor Day, the Philippines also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Labor Code.
The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) also launched commemorative stamps for the golden anniversary of the signing of the Labor Code.
Meanwhile, also present at the ‘Labor Day with the President’ event at the Palace were DOLE Secretary Laguesma, Philippine Postal Corporation Postmaster General and CEO Luis Carlos, and other officials.
