Policy-making labor sector enters mainstream politics

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s labor force will benefit from representation by party-list organizations vying for seats in Congress with their pro-labor advocacies, according to Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino.

He said the labor sector’s participation in policymaking affecting the rights and welfare of laborers used to be confined to the unions they belonged to, but now it had been elevated to actual involvement in drafting laws protecting their interests and welfare.

The senator noted that over a dozen of the 156 party-list organizations for the 2025 elections advocate for labor sector causes.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the country’s current labor force of about 51 million, of which 96 percent are employed, stands to benefit from the representation in Congress with their pro-labor advocacies.

Tolentino agreed with Laguesma’s view that the participation of pro-labor groups in direct governance indicates that the nation fully embraces freedom and democracy.

The labor chief said that since 95 percent of enterprises are micro, small and medium enterprises, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also supports the sector to generate more jobs.

Laguesma cited the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program, implemented since the pandemic, to aid workers.