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Politics

ALLOW PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUY VACCINES – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva scored the proposal to exclude certain firms from the government’s vaccine procurement program, saying such a move, if implemented, would hamper the efforts on speeding up the roll out of vaccines across the broader population. Villanueva referred to Section 5 of a draft administrative order by the Department of Health circulating in […]

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NON-OFW PINOYS NOW ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME

Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the easing of restrictions on returning Filipinos from foreign countries after authorities rescinded a guideline it issued which triggered a wave of disruptions on travel plans of Filipinos eager to come home. Villanueva lamented the ordeal of Filipino passengers overseas, particularly those who received notices from their airlines that they would […]

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ALLOW GOV’T WORKERS TO RETIRE EARLY – VILLANUEVA

Adjusting the optional retirement age for government workers would open up opportunities for the next generation of civil servants and allow retirees to enjoy the next phase of their lives, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva asked resource persons at the hearing of the Senate civil service committee on the likelihood of staffing shortage should […]

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SURVEILLANCE TESTS KEEP JOBS ALIVE – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva stressed the crucial role that surveillance testing plays in keeping millions of jobs alive amid another surge in cases of COVID-19. Villanueva said regular random testing in workplaces could detect sources of coronavirus and stem its transmission and risks of workers bringing the virus home. The chair of the Senate labor committee […]

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SENATE RATIFIES LABOR EDUCATION BILL – VILLANUEVA

The Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the labor education bill, a measure that seeks to improve education and awareness on labor laws, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, described the development as a “golden opportunity” for both employers and workers to achieve harmony in the workplace […]

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Politics

VACCINE ROLLOUT NEEDS A FAST BREAK – VILLANUEVA

The government’s vaccination drive must go on a fast break to meet its target number of beneficiaries, and loosen movement restrictions that affect workers and hamper economic activity, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. At the current pace of administering 3,887 vaccine doses daily, the government might not fulfill the President’s promise of life returning to […]

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PROTECT WOMEN VS WORK DISCRIMINATION – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, filed a bill expanding the list of prohibited acts in the Labor Code that constitute discrimination against women. “As presently worded, the Labor Code of the Philippines already prohibits certain acts of discrimination against women,” Villanueva said in the bill. “The law should adapt to […]

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REVIEW PROTOCOLS ON OFW DEPLOYMENT – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva called for a thorough review of protocols on deployment of workers, citing data from the Department of Labor and Employment which showed that the most abused OFWs are household service workers, who are mostly, if not all are women. At the resumption of the public hearings into the proposed creation of the […]

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DON’T’ FORCE WORKERS TO GET VACCINES — VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva warned against discriminating workers who opt out from vaccination programs implemented by their employers, saying instead of forcing workers to be inoculated, confidence building efforts should be carried out in the company, instead of threats of termination from employment. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, reacted to reports on “no vaccination, […]

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Politics

SENATE RESUMES WORK ON OFW DEPT BILL – VILLANUEVA

The Senate buckled down to work again to hammer out the “nitty-gritty” of creating a Department of Overseas Filipinos (DoFil) that won’t be just a change of agency name but one truly empowered to protect and promote the rights and the welfare of millions of migrant Filipino workers. “This is not just a re-labeling exercise […]