Tolentino: Labor sector policy-making role evolving into mainstream politics

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino sees the labor sector’s participation in government policy-making evolving to mainstream politics, from labor organizations inside enterprises to party-list organizations participating in elections.

“The participation of the labor sector in the government policy-making is evolving from the ranks of laborers affiliated with labor organizations to party-list organizations vying for seats in Congress,” Tolentino said.

The senator said that more than a dozen of the 156 party-list organizations the Commission on Elections (Comelec) accredited for the 2025 midterm elections advocate for labor sector causes.

READ: Tolentino lauds Comelec’s prep for 2025 midterm elections

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

According to Labor Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma, 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.

Laguesma surmised that the participation of pro-labor groups in direct governance indicates that the nation fully embraces freedom and democracy.

He said that the present administration, through executive action, is initiating programs that support the labor force and enterprises in developing and coordinating job creation.

Laguesma said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered “heightened coordination” with the private sector to encourage them to participate in the government’s job creation.

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

He also cited the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, implemented since the pandemic, to aid workers with cash directly.

This program aims to provide temporary employment to displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for 10 to 90 days, depending on the nature of the work, he added.