President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday pledged that his administration will protect the rights and welfare of the Philippine workforce.

Marcos made the promise in a dialogue with labor leaders at the Goldenberg Mansion, Malacañan compound in Manila.

“Naka-usap ko ang ating mga labor leaders para tiyakin na mananatiling protektado ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating mga manggagawa (I spoke with our labor leaders to ensure that the rights and welfare of our workers remain protected),” he said in a Facebook post.

“Patuloy ang suporta ng gobyerno sa bukas at makabuluhang usapan tungo sa trabahong may dignidad, sahod na sapat, at kinabukasang may pag-asa para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino (The government continues to support open and meaningful dialogue towards dignified work, adequate wages and a hopeful future for every Filipino family),” Marcos added.

In a statement, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Mendoza confirmed the labor leaders’ meeting with Marcos, noting that “most urgent” labor and employment concerns faced by tens of millions of Filipino workers were raised.

Mendoza said also discussed were protection of workers’ rights, living wages and creation of decent jobs

“We thank the President for granting this important audience and listening to the voice of labor. We brought forward the necessity of strengthening the right of workers to freely form and join unions not only because it is a fundamental constitutional right guarantee and part and parcel of international labor standards, but also because it is vital to building back better our national economy and unlocking hundreds of thousands of investment and employment opportunities through tariff-free access and free trade agreements,” he said.

“We trust that the President’s commitment will be matched by concrete executive and legislative support for these critical reforms. Our workers deserve more than lip service — they demand and deserve laws that promote their dignity at work and in life, substantially raise their wages towards true living wages, and create new, permanent, and decent jobs,” he added.

Mendoza said the TUCP is committed to working with the government and key stakeholders to ensure that labor rights are “not just promised but upheld at all times.”

This, as he stressed that a “more prosperous and equitable Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines)” will not be realized if the country’s workforce “remains trapped in the vicious cycle of precarious work, poverty wages and powerlessness.”

The TUCP is pushing for the immediate passage of several measures benefitting the labor sector, including the Union Formation Act, Assumption of Jurisdiction Act, and Workers’ Right to Strike Act. (PNA)