The more than 97,000 labor inspections of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) strongly reaffirmed the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protecting workers’ rights and upholding international labor standards.

President Marcos said that from July 2022 to March 2025, DOLE conducted technical visits, regular assessments, and safety investigations of workplaces, totaling 97,150 labor inspections.

“Sinisikap din ng pamahalaan na palakasin ang proteksyon para sa lahat ng manggagawang Pilipino,” the President said in a May 1 speech during the 123rd Labor Day celebrations in Pasay City.

“Ito po ay para masiguro na ang bawat manggagawa ay may ligtas na lugar ng trabaho, maayos na sahod, at makatarungan na pagtrato,” the Chief Executive said.

President Marcos noted, “We remain steadfast in our task to fully advance international labor standards, including our workers’ rights to freedom of association, their right to organize, and the protection of human rights. This is why the Philippines is committed to ratifying the ILO Convention No. 155, establishing the core framework for Occupational Safety and Health management at national and workplace levels, including a dynamic policy approach to OSH.”

The President said his administration continues to improve the labor dispute resolution services. “We also continue to restore the status of the Philippines in the international community as a beacon of democratic rights and civil liberties of workers in the Asia Pacific,” he said.

The President cited that last year, the Philippine Government gained a seat in the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) governing body, as well as in the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association and its International Training Center board.

“We have made significant progress in addressing the long-standing issues against the implementation of freedom of association and the right to organize of workers,” President Marcos said. | PND