Bongbong Marcos signs Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act
UPDATED MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act, which will create a national masterplan to address unemployment, underemployment and youth unemployment.
Last May, the bill breezed through the Senate with all 24 members voting for it.
READ: Senate approves national employment masterplan creation
“The law will help us solve the various challenges plaguing our labor sector, such as low quality jobs, skills mismatch, and underemployment, among others. It likewise addresses the need to update the skills of our workers and promote the use of digital technologies, particularly for our micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises,” said Marcos during the ceremonial signing of the law at Malacañang.
Under the new law, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary will head the TPB Inter-Agency Council, who will craft the national plan.
Marcos instructed the TPB Inter-Agency Council to expedite the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law.
“I, therefore, direct the Council and all concerned government agencies to fast-track the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of the law so that our workers and stakeholders can immediately benefit from it,” said Marcos.
Neda said that the law will also focus on upskilling and reskilling Filipino workers. , as well as supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders.
“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,” Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
“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.
In attendance at the event was Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Joel Villanueva, Interior Sec. Benjamin Abalos, Labor and Employment Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma, Budget Sec. Amenah Pangandaman, Trade Sec. Alfredo Pascual and Balisacan.
