Following the conclusion of the UNI-PLC 2023 National Convention last 06 February 2023, the UNI-PLC requested for the administration of the oathtaking of its newly-elected officers to be followed by a courtesy call with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma.
Secretary Laguesma recognized the request of UNI-PLC and called the meeting on 03 April 2023 at 02:00 PM in the Office of the Secretary Conference Room, DOLE Executive Building, Intramuros, Manila. This was attended by the DOLE Senior Officials, representatives from the Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR), and the newly-elected officers of UNI-PLC.
Sec. Laguesma presided over the oath-taking ceremony and gave his warmest congratulations to the newly-inducted officers.
He also took notice of the organization’s goal and trade union movement liberalization. Despite the long years of fighting for this cause, he still wished for the fulfillment of the organization’s goals and hoped that they would never tire of accomplishing these causes coupled with trade union social responsibility.
Sec. Laguesma enumerated the Department’s projects and activities that are aligned with the government’s approach to inclusivity and sustainable action for the employer’s welfare, particularly the recently-conducted National Consultation on Labor and Employment Plan, to be followed by the High-Level consultation, the upcoming National Employment Summit, and the ILO-HLTM (International Labor Organization-High-Level Tripartite Mission) Roadmap.
Atty. Du, Vice President of the National Federation of Labor (NFL), inquired about the availment of assistance under the Workers Organization and Development Program (WODP) and the problem of the unliquidated amount of loans from beneficiaries.
DOLE Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio Jr. responded that the above-mentioned matter is being resolved by the Bureau of Labor Relations (BLR), the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), and the Financial Management Service (FMS).
Mr. Roland De la Cruz, President of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP/CIO/PACIWU), suggested the inclusion of trade unions as partners in the implementation of the DOLE Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) TUPAD Program.
Sec. Laguesma appreciated the suggestion of Mr. De la Cruz and responded, that the Department would look into the possibility to reach and aid more qualified workers.
The UNI-PLC is a global union federation for the skills and services sectors claiming to have affiliates in 150 countries representing 20 million workers.
END/BLR
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