The new law seeks to address both unemployment and underemployment in the Philippines, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Numbers from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that the unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in July 2023, which goes to show how unemployment and even underemployment are still issues that the Philippine government continuously deals with. 

In response to these concerns, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law that seeks to address these issues: Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11962—formally known as the “Act Establishing the National Employment Master Plan.” It is also known as the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act.”

The law is principally sponsored and authored by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva. 

Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), “The law will focus on improving the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives; and support micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders.” 

The new law mandates the creation of an inter-agency council—which will be chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary. Moreover, this inter-agency council is expected to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation as well as the labor market in the country. 

This analysis will then be used to help local government units when it comes to planning and implementing employment generation as well as recovery plans. 

How This Benefits Both Employers and Employees

Having a streamlined system of planning and implementing employment programs will help ensure that these programs can be executed efficiently. What’s more, the efficient execution of such programs will greatly benefit Filipinos who are looking to start a new career or even switch careers. 

Aside from this, having a centralized council will benefit employers who want to work with the government. This is because it will be more convenient to work with a specific council when it comes to providing employment opportunities for the people. 

Overall, the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act can help the government address the problems of unemployment and underemployment. However, it all boils down to the proper implementation of the law in order for all stakeholders to benefit from it.