Philippine President Marcos Jr. Signs Game-Changing ‘Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act’ to Boost Employment

Philippine President Marcos Jr. Signs Game-Changing ‘Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act’ to Boost Employment

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has signed a pivotal new law, known as the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, which will serve as the country’s long-term employment generation and recovery master plan. This Act is expected to stimulate employment recovery and generate more job opportunities for Filipino citizens, addressing the recent rise in unemployment rates which stood at 4.5% in June.

The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act aligns with the current administration’s goals for sustainable and inclusive national development. It aims to tackle various challenges in the labor sector, such as low-quality jobs, skills mismatches, and underemployment. The Act also promotes the use of digital technologies, particularly among micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), to update the skills of workers and enhance their competitiveness.

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To ensure the successful implementation of the Act, a Trabaho Para sa Bayan Inter-Agency Council will be established. The council, 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), will develop key performance indicators, success measures, and action components for the employment master plan.

Supporting Businesses and Enhancing Skills

One of the key responsibilities of the council will be to provide support for MSMEs, enhance the skills of the workforce, and incentivize employers and private sector organizations. The government intends to offer incentives to those employers and private entities that contribute to skills development and knowledge sharing among businesses and workers. The Act also promises to increase access to financial services for MSMEs, thus promoting self-reliance and spurring employment generation.

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Harmonizing Plans and Ensuring a Favorable Business Environment

The President has directed all government agencies, including local government units (LGUs), to cooperate and coordinate with the council to ensure the effective integration of the Plan into their policies and programs. He also directed the council and all concerned government agencies to fast-track the issuance of the law’s implementing rules and regulations to enable workers and stakeholders to immediately benefit from it. The President also urged the DoLE and the NEDA to align the Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 with the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan to effectively manage government efforts and resources.

Towards a More Prosperous Future

The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act marks a significant step towards the long-term employment generation and recovery plan for the country. It is expected to catalyze economic growth in the Philippines by creating decent employment opportunities and enhancing the competitiveness, wellness, and productivity of workers. With this concerted effort, the government is confident that it will not only achieve the goals of this law but also realize a vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas” or New Philippines.