Jinggoy Estrada wants to overhaul ‘obsolete’ labor code

FILE PHOTO Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Photo by Daniza Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants to overhaul the country’s labor code, saying that some of its provisions are already outdated.

While the overhaul of the Labor Code of the Philippines is not part of his proposed top 10 priority bills, Estrada said that he will work on it in his six-year term in the Senate.

“All the bills that I filed, top 10 bills that I filed are labor-related bills. Because of my campaign promise to create more jobs, I filed 10 labor-related bills,” he said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart Tuesday.

“In fact, hindi ko pa nga naisali rito ‘yung pag-overhaul ng Labor Code of the Philippines because our Labor Code of the Philippines, 1974 pa yata ‘yan and there are a lot of provisions under the Labor Code of 1974 that are already obsolete. I have six years to overhaul this Labor Code of the Philippines,” he shared.

(In fact, overhauling the Labor Code of the Philippines is not yet included here. Our Labor Code has been here since 1974 and there are a lot of provisions under the Labor Code of 1974 that are already obsolete. I have six years to overhaul this Labor Code of the Philippines.)

The top 10 priority bills that Estrada lodged during the opening of the 19th Congress on Monday are:

-Strengthening the National Wages and Productivity Commission Act
-Magna Carta for Workers, Enterprises and Organizations in the Informal Economy
-Condonation of Penalties for Unpaid SSS Contributions of Household Employers
-Working Time Flexibilization in the Private Sector Act
-Protection to Freelancers Act
-Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers
-20% Discount in Payment of Fees and Charges for Certain Certificates and Clearances for Indigent Job Applicants
-Fixed Monthly Salaries for Public Utility Drivers and Conductors
-National Manpower Data and Placement Center Act
-National Employment Assistance Center of the Philippines Act

READ: Jinggoy Estrada wants to incentivize flexible work arrangements

According to Jinggoy, all his bills will generate jobs for Filipinos as it was his platform during the last elections.

The senator said that job hunting is currently difficult amid the soaring prices of fuel and commodities.

“Itong lahat ng mga bills na ito ay pwede mag-generate ng mga trabaho para sa ating mga workers, sa ating mga manggagawa kasi I ran under the platform of to provide jobs for the workers,” he said.

(These bills can generate jobs for our workers since I ran under the platform of providing jobs for the workers.)

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