Villanueva wants full rollout of Trabaho Law

SENATE Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva on Saturday, March 9, expressed confidence that unemployment could be reduced by fully implementing the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) law.

Villanueva made his forecast after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the unemployment rate increased to 4.5 percent or 2.15 million jobless Filipinos in January 2024 from 3.6 percent or 1.60 million jobless Filipinos in December 2023.

“It’s lamentable that we seem to have more and more of our countrymen caught up in the cycle of joblessness. We must not stop finding ways to create more sustainable jobs and livelihood by placing employment at the heart of economic development,” he said.

Villanueva also announced the expected signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the TPB Act next week, which will signal its full rollout.

One of the key reforms introduced by the senator to generate employment, TPB will create a national master plan to address unemployment, underemployment, and youth unemployment.

He said the new law will address the seasonality of employment, which gives work to individuals only during certain times of the year.

“While we acknowledge these types of jobs, we will continue to work for something that will give our workers security in the workplace and social protection, not to mention a fair income,” Villanueva said.

Recently, Villanueva sponsored in plenary TPB’s companion measure — the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) bill that seeks to primarily address the persistent problem of job-skills mismatch in the country, by fostering partnerships with the private sector in upskilling or re-tooling of the Filipino workforce.

Villanueva said the bill will help bridge job seekers to potential employers through the EBET program.

“A comprehensive remedy is needed in addressing the unemployment problem, such as the creation of opportunities alongside with the provision of the right training for our workers,” he said.