Saturday, April 30, 2011
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is set to unveil Sunday a package of non-wage benefit for workers as part of the government’s Labor Day celebration.
Early this month, Malacañang announced that there will be “good news” on Labor Day to help workers cope with the rising prices of oil and basic commodities. However, this did not refer to wage increase.
“We all eagerly await the news from the President tomorrow (Sunday) so it will be a big day for all of us tomorrow,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday over government-run dzRB radio.
Valte refused to give additional details on the Labor Day gift of the government, avoiding to preempt the President's announcement.
The Labor Day program prepared by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) will begin with a 7 a.m. schedule in Malacañang to be followed with a breakfast dialogue between Aquino and leaders of major labor groups.
According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, 90 labor leaders from 17 groups have confirmed attendance to the dialogue.
Some of these groups include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor, National Confederation of Labor, National Union of Bank Employees, and the Philippine Association of Migrant Workers and Advocates.
Left-wing group Kilusang Mayo Uno was not invited to the dialogue.
“Dati inanayahan namin yan pero ang kanilang preference ay hindi makilahok. May separate sila na programa at yan naman ay nirerespeto natin dahil ito ay kanilang araw,”Baldoz explained.
The Labor Secretary also invited job seekers to attend the Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fair with at least 190,000 job vacancies from 2,000 employers.
The main Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fair will be held in the Lagoon Area of the Rizal Park between Maria Orosa Street and Roxas Boulevard.
The regional jobs and livelihood fair will be at the SM Baguio and Baguio Convention Center in the Cordillera Administrative Region; SM Rosales, Pangasinan in Ilocos Region; Francisco L. Dy Coliseum, Cauayan, Isabela in Cagayan Valley; SM San Fernando, Pampanga and SM Baliwag, Bulacan in Central Luzon; SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna and SM Rosario, Cavite in Calabarzon; Divine World College, Calapan City in Mimaropa; SM Naga City in Bicol Region; SM Iloilo and SM Bacolod in Western Visayas; and SM Cebu City, Cebu International Convention Center, Abellana Sports Complex City, Cebu City and Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City in Central Visayas.
Other venues are as follows: Tacloban City Convention Center in Western Visayas; Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium, Zamboanga City, and Gaisano Capital, Pagadian City in Zamboanga Peninsula; SM Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao; and, SM Davao, Gaisano Mall Davao in Davao Region; KCC Mall in General Santos, Plaza Pavilion in Kidapawan City and the South Seas Mall, at Don R, Alfonso St., Cotabato City in Central Mindanao; and Dole regional office in Caraga.