MANILA, Philippines — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis N. Tolentino has pledged greater transparency and open communication with labor groups as the government faces mounting demands on wages, job security, union rights and protections for workers in emerging forms of employment.
Tolentino made the commitment during a meeting with leaders of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila, where both sides discussed a wide range of labor concerns affecting Filipino workers.
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the talks covered freedom of association, security of tenure, living wage standards, certification elections, maritime arbitration, collective bargaining agreements, and workplace violence and harassment.
The labor secretary also urged union representatives to directly raise concerns with the department, saying transparency should work both ways.
“If we make mistakes, point them out to us,” Tolentino told participants.
Wage concerns remain a major pressure point
The latest dialogue comes as the labor sector continues to push for stronger wage protection amid concerns over the rising cost of living.
Just days before the DOLE-TUCP meeting, The Manila Times reported that TUCP called for government support for a proposed ₱85 daily wage increase nationwide, arguing that workers outside Metro Manila should also benefit from higher pay.
The wage issue has also exposed a wider debate over what constitutes a sufficient income for Filipino families.
The Inquirer previously reported that labor groups considered the ₱85 increase insufficient amid the continuing cost-of-living pressures, while discussions surrounding a family living wage have gained greater prominence.
Separately, SunStar reported that TUCP continued to push for a ₱200 legislated wage increase, arguing that tax relief alone cannot substitute for higher wages. The report came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. proposed raising the annual income-tax exemption threshold from ₱250,000 to ₱350,000.
These developments place wage policy at the center of the government’s broader labor agenda.
DOLE backs stronger protections for gig and fishing workers
Tolentino also expressed support for the possible ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 188, which concerns work in the fishing sector, and ILO Convention No. 193, which addresses decent work in the platform economy.
The move could have implications for workers in less traditional employment arrangements, particularly those working through digital platforms.
The PIA reported that the labor department sees these measures as part of efforts to extend labor protections to workers in evolving sectors, including the growing platform or gig economy.
The issue has already been the subject of calls for government action. A June report from Pilipino Mirror noted calls for the Philippines to pursue ratification of ILO Convention No. 193 to strengthen protections for platform workers.
Labor disputes remain under scrutiny
The DOLE-TUCP meeting also touched on ongoing labor disputes involving employees in the electric cooperative and sugar industries.
DOLE said it would continue monitoring the processes aimed at resolving these disputes, underscoring the department’s role in maintaining dialogue among workers, employers and government.
TUCP likewise asked the government to support several pending measures in the House of Representatives involving union formation, government intervention in labor disputes and penalties related to strikes.
The bigger challenge: turning dialogue into action
The meeting represents more than a promise of transparency. It comes at a critical point for Philippine labor policy, with workers and unions simultaneously pressing for higher wages, stronger job security, greater freedom to organize and protections for workers in new forms of employment.
The government has emphasized tripartite dialogue among workers, employers and the state as a key mechanism for addressing labor disputes and emerging workplace challenges.
People Matters likewise reported that Tolentino reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stronger engagement with workers’ groups and continued tripartite cooperation.
The labor department has also approved the inclusion of TUCP President and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza in the Philippine delegation to the upcoming ASEAN Senior Labour Officials’ Meeting, potentially giving organized labor a stronger voice in regional labor discussions.
For Filipino workers, however, the bigger question is what follows the meetings.
Transparency may open the door—but workers will ultimately judge the government by whether their concerns lead to concrete action on wages, job security, labor rights and workplace protections.
And with wage disputes, pending legislation and new forms of employment protection still on the table, the next phase of the government’s labor agenda could prove far more consequential than the promises made at the negotiating table.
Leave a Reply