Labor Education and Research Network

05/06/2026

Panalo tayo sa Certification Election✊🏼

Ang Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Progreen Balayan (SENTRO PROGREEN-NUWHRAIN) sa Progreen Agricrop Inc. sa Balayan, Batangas.

Congratulations sa ating bagong Chapter/lokal at welcome sa NUWHRAIN-National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant & Allied , SENTRO at IUF: The food, farm, hotels and more global union👏

OFFICIAL TALLY:

SENTRO-PROGREEN-NUWHRAIN: 124 Votes
PAEU-FUR-TUCP: 0 Vote
No Union: 2
Spoiled: 2
Segregated: 0

Maraming salamat din sa suporta ng Labor Education and Research Network

11/05/2026

𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝: 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍-𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞 ⁣
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By our Constitution, the Philippine Congress is supposedly the reflection of the popular will of our people. Through the Senate and the Lower House, our elected representatives are expected to serve the interests of the citizens that they serve. Beyond popularity and political opportunism, the “people’s representatives” are expected to think, act, and position with the best interests of their constituencies at heart. ⁣
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The Labor Education and Research Network (LEARN) and the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) express great alarm at the political developments this May 11th, 2026. What transpired in the halls of the Senate is a betrayal of the people’s trust. We are left with a divided Congress. As the saying goes, this divided house derails all attempts at accountability through institutional channels.⁣
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While we commend the House of Representatives for its principled stand for constitutional process, we are worried that forces are at work to paralyze accountability before the Senate. The shameless behavior of the dishonorable Bato de la Rosa is especially insulting to Filipino workers. Following his months-long absence from his responsibilities as a Senator, his attendance just to vote on the Senate’s leadership change demonstrates that self-interest and self-preservation are the only factors that matter to him. ⁣
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His continued acceptance of a 300,000-peso monthly salary despite his 6-month absence says everything we need to know about his character, and the moral compass of those that remain allied with him. LEARN and SENTRO condemn the brazen political manoeuvre of the Duterte Senators not for truth, but only to save their political patron. ⁣
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Given the political changes in the Senate, the institution is now hard-pressed to demonstrate where its true loyalty rests — is it in genuine, principled service of the people, or will it be for opportunism, and service to political allies? ⁣
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Now that the articles of impeachment have passed the Lower House, we believe that the Senate is now duty-bound to fulfill its constitutionally mandated role to immediately convene an impeachment trial. The allegations against Vice President Duterte demand answers. We Filipinos deserve answers. We deserve to know whether or not the second-highest official of the land has betrayed the public’s trust by robbing the people she claims she is serving. ⁣
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Contrary to (dis)honorable representative Marcoleta’s assertion, the people that attended the impeachment proceedings are not “hakot.” They are the representatives of the social movements, trade unions, people’s organizations, church and civil society groups, and the millions of workers who are watching the impeachment proceedings. ⁣
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All eyes are now on the Senate. The same people who attended the impeachment vote today are a fraction of the workers, social movements, and citizens who will continue to mobilize for accountability. We would like to remind our lawmakers that the people are no strangers to forcing political change, should our institutions fail us. Those who will stand on the side of truth and accountability will be remembered by history. Those who will vote for themselves and personal loyalty will earn the people’s disgust.⁣

04/05/2026

28/04/2026

Uring manggagawa - hukbong mapagpalaya!✊🏼

Tatlong araw na lang bago muling magmartsa ang iba’t ibang hanay ng mga manggagawa bilang selebrasyon sa Mayo Uno.

Hinihikayat namin ang mga manggagawa mula sa mga sektor at industriya na magkaisa, at manawagan : Tax the rich! Sahod itaas!

10/04/2026

𝐍𝐨 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬:
𝘓𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘕 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 2026 𝘍𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘍𝘚

At surface level, the February 2026 Labor Force Survey (LFS) shows an improvement in the labor market compared to January. But yearly observations reveal the declining national performance in supplying quality jobs.

This is a trend that can be observed across the data: Higher employment, lower unemployment, and lower underemployment from January, but all still underperforming compared to February last year.

At best, the data shows an uptick in the labor market. However, closer examination would prove this to be part of the seasonal trends in jobs which we have long observed. Instead, what we see is an overall decrease in the quantity and quality of jobs.

Services dominate the job market at the expense of agriculture and industry — a constant trend for years.

Industry in particular has shrunk from 18.3% to 17.7% since last year, while the agricultural sector bled around 523,000 jobs this year. Both sectors have a key role in ensuring that we build a competitive national economy resistant to economic shocks such as the current oil crisis, Investment in the industrial sector for example could curb the decline in the power of the Philippine Peso by having a larger value capture of global supply chains that we are already part of, while a robust and developed agricultural sector would help ensure food security.

Instead, the year to year comparison shows administrative and support services seeing the biggest increase in employment, including temporary employment and offshore services. We also see greater insecurity in employment because of the temporary nature of work in the sector.

All of these conditions leave us sorely unprepared to face the current worldwide crisis: The ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran could result in major repercussions for the energy sector, with a potential ripple effect across the economy, particularly on the cost of living crisis already biting many. Assurance of the Iranian Government allowing Philippine-bound vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for much-needed fuel will relieve some of these impacts. However, this on its own will not solve all of the pressures we are facing. Beyond quick fixes and dependence on external developments, the Philippine government needs to take strategic steps to ensure economic stability in the face of current and future uncertainties.

It is because of this that LEARN calls for a change in national labor strategy: Shift from market-led interventions to proactive people-centric responses. We reiterate our call for the government to develop and invest in our industry and agriculture sectors for long-term economic security. As the 21st century promises many uncertainties and challenges to the nation, we cannot afford to be nearsighted in industrial policy.

25/03/2026

THE government will continue to strengthen its labor market programs, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said after the unemployment rate rose to 5.8% in January.

25/03/2026

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬!
𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 (𝘓𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘕) 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘴 𝘑𝘳.’𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘖𝘪𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴

Almost a month since geopolitical tensions in the Middle East exploded into another war between Iran and the United States and Israel, the Philippine government continues to be sluggish in addressing Filipino’s urgent concerns. As motorists — from the well-off SUV driving middle classes, to the motorcycle riding working masses — began a mad rush to gas stations, the government continued to pretend that everything was normal.

No less than president Marcos Jr. himself repeatedly said for weeks that there was no crisis in our oil supply, until he suddenly declared a “national energy emergency”.

With an unreliable government and rising pressures on the cost of living, it is understandable for Filipinos to respond with a wide range of emotions. One of these is to turn on each other for the perceived unevenness of the government’s relief programs. However, to blame the working poor for “ayuda” or to demand the same for the middle classes misses the point.

The entire nation is struggling, and the precariousness of the “privileged” middle class may be a sign that they share many similarities with the working poor after all. Perhaps the working class is broad enough to include the professional graphic designer, BPO worker, and the tricycle driver. Targeted “ayuda” programs are necessary, but they are insufficient in the absence of a comprehensive package of programs and reforms.

Instead of arguing who deserves assistance more, LEARN believes that the people’s energy is better spent pushing the State for a strategic response to the present crisis. Together with trade unions, social movements, and civil society, we join the call to review the oil deregulation law and improve the government’s ability to directly intervene in economic decision-making. Doing so could provide the government with an important tool for mitigating the pressure caused by supply disruptions and shocks.

As we continue to provide emergency relief to transport workers and low-income households, it is important that we ensure food security by providing subsidies and adequate services to farmers who also face rising fertilizer prices due to the supply shock.

Beyond short-term ayuda programs, we believe that it is time for the government to develop a serious public employment program, and actually take steps to formulate the agro-industrial policy required to generate good, quality jobs. Given our vulnerability to the climate crisis and disruptions to oil supplies, these policies must be geared towards developing and expanding renewable energy sources.

As these short and long-term interventions require funding, the move to suspend excise taxes might do more harm than good. Rather than cut existing funding sources, LEARN argues that a wealth tax for the country’s ultra wealthy would go far in raising the revenues to adequately support state support for all Filipinos.

Finally, the declaration of a national energy emergency is a recognition of the current crisis, but it raises more questions than answers. To declare an emergency without a clear plan invites the possibility of abusing emergency powers. In the wake of the unresolved flood control scandal, it is doubtful if Filipinos can trust the administration with this increased discretion. Furthermore, existing laws and policies already give the government the mandate to implement many of the actions that the emergency declaration calls for. Why then is the declaration necessary?

Whatever national strategies will be developed must be done through a consultative, people-centric approach. Instead of ambiguous announcements of emergency power, we call for the government to convene a national summit with trade unions, civil society, and the business sector. Developing responses with the active participation of the people bearing the brunt of the crisis will help ensure that interventions are relevant to the people’s needs, and accurately reflect our concerns and interests.

22/03/2026

WATCH: Pagpapalalim sa pahayag ng LEARN & SENTRO tungkol sa 2026 PSA Labor Force Survey.

10/02/2026

Workers on ‘No Work, No Pay for Legislators’:
Nice Rhetoric… But Where’s the Real Work?

As House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos recently filed a bill to impose a “no work, no pay” scheme on lawmakers — officially House Bill No. 7432 — claiming it would curb absenteeism and strengthen accountability, Filipino workers are having none of the half-baked theatrics.

Let’s be clear: ordinary workers already live by the principle Marcos suddenly discovered. When a construction laborer, factory worker, driver, teacher, or food service crew member misses a day of work without valid reason, they lose a day’s pay — and often bear the real cost of those lost pesos. Meanwhile, high-paid legislators can skip sessions, muddle through committee hearings, and still collect full compensation.

So, when Sandro Marcos pitches “no work, no pay” as if it’s a bold, new idea, workers can’t help but notice the political timing: another piece of legislative gimmick meant to score pogi points while public trust in national leadership’s approval ratings are sinking. The spectacle of proposing what workers already do — while sidestepping the real issues — smells less like reform and more like propaganda with a hashtag.

Let’s get real: why would any legislator willingly give up at least ₱10,000 a day in salary, allowances, and perks? If they truly had scruples, they wouldn’t need a bill — they’d dock their own pay and refund taxpayers right now, no press release required. And even if this somehow becomes law, we all know how it will end: lawmakers policing themselves, penalties easily dodged, attendance magically “complied with.” After all, they’re their own bosses — and they don’t even have to punch a time card.

Workers are not impressed.

Here’s what workers actually want from legislators:

Pass meaningful laws that uplift workers’ lives.
Real wage increases tied to the rising cost of living and inflation.
Measures to strengthen job security and benefits.
Expansion of protections for contract, informal, and migrant workers.

Reforms that actually curb abuse of public funds and political privilege.
Anti-dynasty legislation that closes loopholes and ends political monopolies.
Budget transparency so citizens can track where every peso goes.
Strengthened investigations and penalties for corruption, including full subpoena and contempt powers for independent investigative bodies.

In short: workers want lawmakers working on workers’ priorities — not lawmakers working a PR gimmick.

If legislators truly believe in accountability, they should prove it with real output, not empty slogans. Pass the laws that matter to ordinary Filipinos — not the ones that look good on paper or on trending feeds. # # #

07/02/2026