Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said he will revisit the Labor Code of the Philippines, saying the 1974 labor law is “already vintage.”
“The first we’re looking at is we’ll have to revisit the provision of the Labor Code… because that was enacted in 1974, it’s vintage already,” Laguesma said.
He said there were “piecemeal amendments” in the Labor Code which did not correspond with other provisions.
Meanwhile, to boost protection of the labor sector, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is contemplating on the overhaul of the Labor Code as he cited the need for a legislated wage increase.
“There are conflicting provisions such as between wages and labor relations that can be a source of friction between labor and management,” the labor chief added.
He said that the President’s order to the department is to “alleviate situation of the workers and be able to help the employer sector.”
“What we will be undertaking is to review the nearly five-decade old Labor Code,” he said, adding “these cannot state different things…that can be a source of friction between labor and management.
“We are now reviewing issuances that result in confusion and we’ll try to simplify this for the benefit of our ordinary workers,” he added.
He assured that the labor and employment plan will have to be subject to consultations, dialogues with the affected sectors, labor and employer, and other sectors who might be interested.
“Among the serious concerns of the agency are the country’s underemployment rate at 14.5 percent,” he added.
Meanwhile, to boost protection of the labor sector, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is contemplating on the overhaul of the Labor Code as he cited the need for a legislated wage increase.
The returning senator, who will chair the Senate labor committee, intends to revisit, review, and, if necessary, overhaul the Labor Code of the Philippines.
“We have to revisit and I think there is a need to overhaul the Labor Code. It was enacted in 1974 and there are a lot of provisions which are already obsolete. We need to guarantee that the major laws for our workers are timely and responsive to the current needs of our workers,” he said.
He also underscored the possibility of filing for a Legislated Wage Increase due to the continuously rising cost of fuel, utilities, transportation expenses, and basic commodities.
He stressed this would ensure adequate benefits, support, and protection of the country’s workforce.
“As the incoming Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, I will see to it that the Regional Wage Board is looking after the welfare of our workers by ensuring decent and adequate salaries” he said.
“If in the course of our committee hearings, if they will say that the salaries they are their workers are not enough, I might be forced to legistlate a wage hike,” he added.
However, he believes this should be appropriately studied and deliberated to ensure a mutually beneficial law for laborers and capitalists.
“But of course we have to strike a balance between the urgent needs of the labor sector and burdens of key economic players.” Estrada further stated.
Estrada earlier filed his top 10 priority bills focusing on the labor sector and workers’ welfare.
