Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act to help Filipinos secure jobs – NEDA

FILE: SCREENING. Employers interview applicants, some of whom are hired on the spot, during a jobs fair at a Marikina City mall on Labor Day Monday (May 1, 2023). Business process outsourcing companies; food and beverages, paper and wood products, clothing and automotive parts in manufacturing; and accommodation and food services are the industries that need the most number of workers, according to the Department of Labor and Employment. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The passage of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will help the government achieve the goal of the Philippine Development Plan to provide more jobs to Filipinos, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Wednesday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Wednesday the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act which seeks to, among others, address the challenges in the labor market.

“We support the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act as it contributes to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims to increase employability, expand access to employment opportunities and achieve shared labor market governance,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.

The law mandates the formulation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan (TPB) to address unemployment, underemployment, the informality of working arrangements, the reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers and other challenges in the labor market.

It will also focus on improving the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives and will provide support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and industry stakeholders.

The TPB Inter-Agency Council, chaired by the NEDA Secretary, will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation and labor market in the country.

The Council will also ensure the effective use of resources, harmonizing and complementing all governmental efforts and assisting local government units in planning, devising and implementing employment generation and recovery plans and programs within their respective localities.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the number of unemployed Filipinos was estimated at 2.27 million as of July this year.

This translates to an unemployment rate of 4.

8 percent.

“With the passage of the TPB, this will facilitate stronger coordination and partnership among relevant agencies and stakeholders for the efficient implementation of employment programs,” Balisacan said.