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Politics

IMPLEMENT HEIGHTENED DISEASE MONITORING IN WORKPLACES – VILLANUEVA

The 16.5% contraction of the economy in the second quarter of the year–the worst recorded in nearly three decades–should serve as a warning for policymakers not to rely on lockdowns alone to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva asked the government to consider implementing […]

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GIVE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN PRIVATE, PUBLIC SECTORS HAZARD PAY – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva has filed measures seeking to give essential personnel both in the private and public sectors hazard pay, given the risks faced by these workers, especially during this time of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic where virus transmission is very high. Citing the plight of sanitation workers such as street sweepers and garbage […]

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TESDA SCHOLARSHIPS IN BAYANIHAN 2 TO HELP DISPLACED, RETURNING MIGRANT WORKERS – VILLANUEVA

The P1 billion allocated to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under the Bayanihan 2 bill would go a long way in training displaced workers and returning overseas Filipino workers, said Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva said it was high time for the agency to step up to the enormous task of retooling or […]

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VILLANUEVA TO DOLE: CLARIFY ADVISORY ON WAGE REDUCTION

Senator Joel Villanueva has asked the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to clarify Labor Advisory No. 17, which was issued in May with the resumption of business operations, saying the advisory on wage and wage-related benefits are being abused by some employers. In a letter to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Villanueva said his […]

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ASSURE SAFETY OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL FOR CLASSROOM CLASSES IN LOW-RISK AREAS – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and education authorities to craft safety guidelines for school personnel after the government greenlighted the proposal to allow face-to-face or classroom classes in areas determined to have a low risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission. Villanueva asked DOLE to convene with their counterparts in […]

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PRESIDENT’S SONA SHOULD INCLUDE JOB GENERATION FOR DISPLACED WORKERS, OFWS – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva hopes that the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) will tackle how the government intends to generate jobs for the millions of displaced workers, especially overseas Filipino workers, as the country struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). With a record-high unemployment rate of 17.7% translating to 7.3 […]

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VIRUS INFECTION OF 327 TAGUIG CONSTRUCTION WORKERS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR DOLE – VILLANUEVA

Senator Joel Villanueva has expressed alarm over a report that at least 300 workers at a construction site in Taguig City have been infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as he reiterated his call for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to intensify its labor inspections at workplaces. “Having 327 workers testing positive at […]

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ADOPT ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY VS COVID-19 – VILLANUEVA

The lack of an epidemiological surveillance to monitor the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in real-time is a clear indication of how health authorities are mishandling the pandemic response, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, expressed alarm over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, saying […]

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Politics

VILLANUEVA TO DOLE: INTENSIFY CONDUCT OF WORKPLACE INSPECTIONS

Senator Joel Villanueva has called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to intensify the conduct of workplace inspections in the country to ensure that occupational safety and health (OSH) standards are being followed strictly by firms as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to rise. Intensified inspection for OSH compliance can help in controlling […]

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Politics

MAKE EXITING POGO COMPANIES PAY TAXES OWED – VILLANUEVA

The reported exodus of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) due to tax issues shows how little, if at all, are their economic contribution to the country, especially with their unwillingness to pay the correct taxes, Senator Joel Villanueva said. At every instance when legislators called out POGOs for violating the country’s laws, the government bent […]