Labor groups, gov't to sign 'social protection pact'

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and various government agencies will sign on Thursday a pact creating a national convergence program for the social protection for workers in the informal sector.

TUCP Secretary General Gerard Seno said the signing of the memorandum of agreement will be led by the Department of Labor and Employment.

"We are committing fully to this comprehensive but targetted approach in addressing the growing perceived needs of millions of informal workers’ immediate access to government services such as affordable housing, health and nutrition, skills development, job matching, loan and credit facilitation, expanded social security coverage and subsidies," Seno said.

TUCP estimates that 15 million workers in the informal sector, including vendors, drivers, barbers, tailors, fishermen, barbers, plumbers, tailors and construction workers, are expected to benefit from the social protection program.

Beginning next year, an initial target of 2.5 million informal workers will benefit from the program’s expansion of SSS and Philhealth coverage by requiring membership of all government livelihood grants and subsidies, livelihood, training on safety and health in performing their jobs, skills training and labor market information for graduates of government’s Conditional Cash Transfer program.