Legarda Pays Tribute To All Filipino Workers On Labor Day

Senator Loren Legarda today paid tribute to the millions of Filipino workers, both here and abroad, as the entire country celebrates Labor Day on May 1.

“I salute our country’s workforce for their significant contribution to the economy. Our country would not function without them. It is only fair that we look closely into the specific needs of all Filipino workers, including those working overseas, and address these concerns,” said Legarda.

“We have the moral and legal obligation to defend the rights of each and every Filipino to decent work, one of the most basic economic rights. Unfortunately, more and more Filipinos especially the youth, are often denied access to decent wages, salaries, benefits and good working conditions,” she added.

Due to lack of employment opportunities, the Senator said, more Filipinos are being forced to work abroad. Worse, some of them have become victims of abuse, exploitation, torture and trafficking.

“We have many existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, we just need to ensure that these policies are properly observed and implemented,” she said.

Legarda has authored and sponsored laws such as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Anti-Child Labor Law, Kasambahay Law, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act, Barangay Kabuhayan Act, and the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

She also sponsored in the Senate the ratification of treaties protecting migrant Filipino workers, including the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for the protection of the rights of seafarers, and the Convention on Social Security between the Philippines and Spain.