Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act to generate jobs for the Filipinos, address employment issues

With the passage of the Republic Act No. 11962, also known as “Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act”, on 27 September 2023, the Philippine government shall implement initiatives in providing job opportunities for Filipinos and address the challenges in the labor market such as low quality of jobs, skills mismatch, and underemployment, among others.

The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act seeks to increase employability of Filipinos, expand access to employment opportunities, achieve shared labor market governance, and create an enabling environment for the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Under the said Act, a Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan which will serve as the country’s master plan on employment generation and recovery to realize short-term and long-term goals and visions of the country will be formulated. The law provides that the vision, mission, goals, and milestones of the government will be reviewed which will run for the period of three (3), six (6), and ten (10) years. The plan will cover all sectors – formal, informal, and OFWs who are planning to return to work in the country.

In a phone patch interview with Net25 Current Affairs, Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan, Jr. of the Bureau of Local Employment clarified that the master plan will harmonize the efforts of all government agencies with respect to employment. It is expected to address the issues on unemployment, underemployment, and youth unemployment including the employability of the Senior High School graduates.

Furthemore, Director Patriwirawan emphasized the adherence of this administration to the principles of tripartism and social dialogue in decision and policy-making. Representatives from employers’ organization, labor organization, marginalized or vulnerable sector, as well as informal sector will form part as members of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Inter-Agency Council (TPB-IAC) that will formulate the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan.

As directed by the President, the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will commence soon, which will be led by the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as Chairperson, and co-chaired by the Secretaries of Trade and Industry and Labor and Employment together with other members of the TPB-IAC. Other concerned agencies, as well as private stakeholders will also take part in drafting the IRR.