SEN. Bong Go pushed for job creation and worker protection amid reports that about 2.25 million Filipinos remain unemployed.
The senator made the statement on Monday despite the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report that the country’s unemployment rate eased to 4.4 percent.
Go said that while “month-to-month movements in labor data may show slight improvements, the number of Filipinos without work remains substantial and requires continued attention from policymakers.”
He said that the figures should be “read beyond percentages and viewed in terms of how many families continue to struggle without a stable income.”
“When we say that there are millions who are jobless, it is clear that every day there are families who worry about where to get their daily expenses,” Go said in Filipino.
He said the unemployment figures translate directly to food security, housing stability, and access to basic needs.
Go added that the situation of unemployed Filipinos is often compounded by underemployment, where workers may have jobs but lack sufficient hours or income.
He reiterated the need for measures that would address the realities faced by workers and jobseekers.
Go filed several bills for easing the pressure on working families and those still searching for employment.
He filed Senate Bill (SB) 175 seeking to mandate a P100 daily minimum wage increase nationwide.
To assist those who remain jobless, Go filed SB 174, or the Indigent Jobseekers Assistance bill.
