President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act on Wednesday, a measure that aims to address the various challenges plaguing the Philippine labor sector.
In a ceremonial signing held at the Malacañang Palace, Marcos Jr. thanked both the Senate and the House of Representatives for the timely passage of the bill, one of his administration's priority legislative measures.
"The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act is a significant milestone towards the sustainable and inclusive development of our country," Marcos Jr. said.
"It will help us solve the various challenges plaguing our labor sector such as low-quality jobs, skills mismatch, and underemployment among others," he added.
The law also addresses the need to update the skills of Filipino workers and promote the use of digital technologies, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Crucially, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will establish the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Interagency Council, which will craft a master plan for employment generation and recovery.
The council will be chaired by the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with representatives from other agencies and from various sectors.
All government agencies, including local government units (LGUs), are enjoined to cooperate and coordinate with the council to ensure the effective integration of the plan into their policies and programs.
Marcos Jr. directed the council and all concerned government agencies to fast-track the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law so that workers and stakeholders can immediately benefit from it.
He also enjoined the DOLE and NEDA to harmonize the Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan to ensure that all government efforts and resources will be effectively and efficiently managed.
Marcos Jr. said that the government will continue to provide support and other incentives To businesses, especially MSMEs such as increased access to financing and capital to promote self-reliance and spur employment generation.
Under the law, the government will also incentivize employers, industry stakeholders, and private partners who will facilitate skills development, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing amongst businesses and workers.
"With this concerted effort, I am confident that we will not only achieve the goals of this law but we will also realize our vision of Bagong Pilipinas," Marcos Jr. said.
Marcos Jr. added that the government knows that Filipinos desire to have decent, stable, and dignified jobs.
"With the passage of this law, we are opening a new chapter in our country where there will be sufficient and high-quality employment opportunities for everyone," he said.
Marcos Jr. called on everyone to join the government in ensuring the success of the law and in shaping a prosperous and new Philippines.
In a separate statement, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan welcomed the passage of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act.
"We support the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act as it contributes to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims to increase employability, expand access to employment opportunities, and achieve shared labor market governance," Balisacan said.
"With the passage of the TPB, this will facilitate stronger coordination and partnership among relevant agencies and stakeholders for the efficient implementation of employment programs," Balisacan added.
The TPB Plan shall serve as the State's master plan for employment generation and recovery, aiming to achieve short-term goals and a long-term vision of a "matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa bawat Pilipino".