00:00And in celebration of Labor Day today, leaders of both houses of Congress paid homage to the indispensable role the country's workforce plays in the nation's economic growth.
00:10But all praise, plaudits and pan-gyrics in the country's labor sector would only amount to zilch if wage earners continue to receive pittance for pay
00:18and their way past due-wage hikes are again put on the shelf as we hear more from Armele Les Moras.
00:24House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero both recognized the hard work and efforts of Filipino workers this Labor Day.
00:35According to SP Escudero, it is because of our labor force that our industries, business, and services in the country are sustained.
00:42That's why Speaker Romualdez also assured to continue working to further improve the living conditions of Filipino workers.
00:49As of now, Congress has passed quite a number of laws for the benefit of our workers, like the Trabaho para Sabayan Act, which serves as a national roadmap that aligns skills with real jobs.
01:01Also enacted was a new Agrarian Emancipation Act, erasing billions of pesos of land debts of farmers who feed the nation.
01:08There's also a law providing legal aid for our uniformed personnel, as well as Welfare of Caregivers Act and the Edgar Sia Law for other vital sectors.
01:17However, a legislated wage hike that's not been watered down has always been a perennial request of some groups, as always the lawmakers assured to work on it.
01:27Siguro high time na yung hinihingi nilang wage increase siguro at kailangan i-implement na.
01:32Patuloy po natin isusulong ang living wage bilang pamantayan po sa pagtatakda ng sahod.
01:39House Committee on Labor and Employment Chair Fidel Nograles is also pushing for this, as well as Senator Grace Poe and leading advocate Senator Meek Subiri.
01:49Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
