LABOR GROUPS PLAN FOR MAY 1 RALLY

DOLE says it will celebrate Labor Day by providing free dental, medical services, and by checking if employers comply with labor laws

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said it will hold a celebration on May 1, Labor Day, for its successful programs to improve workers’ lives.

DOLE 7 Public Information Officer Luchel Senarlo said they have several activities like a job fair, livelihood assistance, free dental and medical services, and “operation tuli” in the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) building in Mabolo, Cebu City.

On May 2, Senarlo said DOLE will focus on farmers and fishermen, among others.

Enarlo said that DOLE 7 has inspected establishments to see to it that they are compliant with the labor law.

She said there is also the Tripartite Industry Productivity Council (TIPC), which sees to it that business establishments in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are in harmony with their workers.

Dennis Derige of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), who is also the spokesman of Nagkaisa, said that instead of a labor celebration, they will hold a protest against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Nagkaisa is a labor federation composed of PM, Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and several others.

Derige said they are protesting why Duterte allegedly turned his back on his campaign promise to end contractualization by refusing to sign an executive order on it.

Derige said they are now negotiating with Kilusang Mayo Uno to join their indignation protest so the labor sector will unite against contractualization.