Newly appointed Labor and Employment Secretary Beinvenido E. Laguesma said he will come out with deliverables to concerned stakeholders, particularly those in underserved areas, for his first 100 days in office.
In his first-ever press conference last Friday, Laguesma he prefers to address the concerns of the labor and employer stakeholders of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as soon as possible.
“It has been the tradition [for new appointees] to be asked what they will do in their first 100 days. I prefer to be confined with such tradition. I want as early as now, we are already doing something,” Laguesma said.
For issues, which are not expected to be resolved in the short-term, Laguesma committed he will consult workers and employers to come out with a “win-win” solution for both parties as instructed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.
“It is clear in the instruction of President Bongbong Marcos to prioritize programs for workers and the employer sector,” Laguesma said.
Laguesma returned to DOLE last Friday to assume his previous post after a turnover ceremony with former Labor Secretary Silveste H. Bello III.
He served as the Labor Secretary of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada from 1998 to 2001.
Even before his turnover ceremony, Laguesma said he already conducted consultations with labor groups to determine their concerns, which they would want to address.
Among the issues related by labor groups are contractualization, higher wages, job security, protection of their right to organize, and better service delivery of DOLE.
Laguesma said he already ordered the review of some of their issues, particularly related to contractualization, to study how it could be simplified to prevent it from being abused by unscrupulous employers.
The labor chief also held a consultation with the directors of DOLE’s regional offices to address their concerns and better implement their programs particularly in far-flung areas.
Laguesma said he is set to meet with employers next week to also get their concerns.
“I want every day from now on, we will do something we can account for,” Laguesma said.
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