Noy pays tribute to workers on Labor Day

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino paid tribute to Filipino workers as the nation celebrates Labor Day today, urging them to help sustain the gains achieved by the government in the last six years.

Aquino said the nation salutes the Filipino workers for striving to achieve their dreams of providing a better future for their families.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III read the President’s message over radio dzRB yesterday.

“We celebrate Labor Day to thank the efficiency, integrity and strength that you contribute to the nation,” the message said.

“In the six years that we tread the straight path, the government saw the people’s genuine cooperation in its development agenda.”

Under Aquino’s leadership, the workers responded to the call to build better relations with industry, adopted fast-evolving technologies and proved that they could compete in the global market.

“Overseas workers as well as members of the uniformed services joined the march toward national transformation and reform.”

According to the President, Filipino volunteerism was prevalent, particularly in elevating the quality of work in Philippine society. 

“We strived to equal your determination by laying down the solutions to allow everyone to live with dignity,” Aquino said.

On Wednesday, Aquino visited a pre-Labor Day job and career fair in Mandaue City, Cebu. The event offered Cebuanos nearly 18,000 jobs.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said at least 14,000 overseas jobs and more than 3,000 local jobs were offered at the fair.  – Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero

Baldoz said job and career fairs would be held in five venues in Central Visayas and in 43 other venues in the country today.

She said labor unions begged off from joining the traditional Labor Day events this year in order to participate in the rallies for the presidential candidates they are supporting.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II vowed to put an end to labor contractualization if he gets elected on May 9.

Roxas said contractualization violates the Constitution and workers’ rights.

In the first three months of his presidency, Roxas said he would enact a law that would ban contractualization.

He said the Department of Labor and Employment has a policy prohibiting contractualization, yet it was not enforced due to some legal loopholes. – With Paolo Romero