MAJOR labor groups on Tuesday urged new Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino to act immediately on long-standing worker demands, including higher wages, job security, and stronger labor rights protections.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) both welcomed Tolentino’s appointment, expecting a responsive, action-driven leadership at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
TUCP said Filipino workers viewed Tolentino’s appointment with “cautious optimism,” hoping it would lead to concrete reforms that would improve workers’ lives.
It called on Tolentino to “hit the ground running,” stressing that only two years remain under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address worsening labor conditions.
TUCP pressed for urgent income support for minimum wage earners, tighter regulations against contractualization or "ENDO," and stronger protection of workers’ freedom of association.
It added that millions of Filipino workers continue to struggle with poverty wages, high inflation, and declining purchasing power amid rising living costs nationwide.
Estimates show that in the private sector, more than 23 million workers are employed on a contractual basis, including "endo," "555" or those supplied by manpower agencies and cooperatives.
ENDO is short for "end-of-contract," or "5-5-5," because contracts usually span five months at a time. After five months, employers rehire employees for another fixed term, and the cycle continues.
The 1987 Constitution guarantees the right to security of tenure, and Article 296 of the Philippine Labor Code states that employees who continue to work after a six-month probationary period must be regularized and, as such, given labor standards benefits, such as SSS, paid leaves, 13th month, and security of tenure.
The provision was meant to protect workers, but companies learned to circumvent it to save money, usually by outsourcing contract workers from an agency or manpower cooperative.
Also, the TUCP cited the Philippines’ continued inclusion among the world’s worst countries for workers, according to the International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index.
It noted that Tolentino previously recognized the need for a “decent living daily wage” for Filipinos to rise above the poverty threshold.
As chairman of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), Tolentino was urged to confront the widening gap between wages and the cost of living, beginning with at least a P200 increase in the minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the FFW expressed sorrow over outgoing Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma's resignation due to health reasons.
The group thanked Laguesma for his years of service and credited him for promoting dialogue, consultations and tripartite discussions that strengthened labor relations.
While welcoming Tolentino, FFW said that labor governance requires a deep understanding of workers’ realities, especially amid challenges such as inflation, contractualization, digital platform work, artificial intelligence disruptions, and job insecurity.
The federation said it expects Tolentino to bring fresh energy and commitment to DOLE, emphasizing that industrial peace and social justice depend on strong cooperation among labor, employers and government.
Both labor groups underscored that the transition in DOLE leadership should strengthen, not weaken, workers' voice in governance and ensure that labor concerns remain a national priority.
