The chair of the House of Representatives’ labor and employment committee called for the passage of a bill that would establish a national jobs creation plan, which he said is necessary for the country to fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We need to institutionalize and expand the current National Employment Recovery Strategy or NERS and establish a Jobs Creation Plan (JCP), which would help us address the various labor, social, and economic issues that have cropped up during the pandemic,” Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
Under the bill, an Inter-Agency Council for Jobs and Investments would be created that is tasked with conducting a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation and labor market in the country and crafting medium- and long-term JCPs.
Nograles is sponsoring House Bill No. 8400, or the Trabaho Para sa Pilipino Act, which the Lower House is set to vote on next week.
Under the bill, an Inter-Agency Council for Jobs and Investments would be created that is tasked with conducting a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation and labor market in the country and crafting medium- and long-term JCPs.
The council will be composed of the heads of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Finance, Department of the Interior and Local Government; and representatives from employers’ organizations, labor groups, marginalized sector and the informal sector.
According to Nograles, the measure would be crucial in helping Filipinos find meaningful employment.
“We are not only talking about around 2.18 million unemployed Filipinos that comprise our 4.2 percent unemployment rate, but also at least 15.68 million informal workers that have been affected by the closure of various businesses during the pandemic,” the lawmaker said.
He also said that the JCP would include all national, regional, and local government units in the country, without prejudice to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to opt in adopting its own regional employment plan.
“The bill requires the active participation of LGUs, as we recognize their vital role in localizing the JCP and ensuring it will fit the unique context of their jurisdictions,” the solon said.
“Naniniwala tayong sa muli nating pag-usad, wala dapat maiiwan. Umaasa ako na susuportahan nang lubos ng ating mga kasama sa Kamara ang panukalang ito,” Nograles added.
