TUCP hits gov’t managers’ reliance on standard job fairs

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) criticized government economic managers for relying on standard job fairs, delaying the full implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Act, and harboring unrealistic expectations, with foreign investments resolving the issues at hand.

The labor group said since the beginning of 2025, over half a million Filipinos have lost their jobs, and nearly a million more are facing challenges in securing stable work and income.

In a statement, the TUCP, the largest labor group in the country said the economic leaders continue to rely on the same outdated strategies—hosting job fairs, promoting job-sharing initiatives that fail to provide genuine employment, and making hollow promises about foreign investments that are unlikely to materialize unless flawed policies are addressed.

According to the latest January 2025 Labor Force Survey, unemployment rose to 4.3 percent (2.16 million) from 3.1 percent (1.63 million) in December 2024, while underemployment surged to 13.3 percent (6.47 million), up from 10.9 percent (5.48 million) in the same period.

The TUCP demanded an immediate innovative intervention and stopped making excuses and delays.

The TUCP emphasized the necessity for the government to transition from merely formulating plans to actually creating tangible employment opportunities.

“The TPB Act should move past the usual statements about the need for improvements in job quality and income levels, focusing instead on the comprehensive implementation of strategies that generate more and better jobs. This includes not only sustainable positions but also those that offer living wages, job security, and full adherence to labor rights,” the TUCP added. - By Vito Barcelo

TUCP asks govt to aid Filipino ‘TNTs’ in US

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Vice President Luis Corral

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called on the government to create an inter-agency body “to synchronize efforts among government agencies, civil society, and Filipino organizations in the United States.”

“With nearly half a million undocumented Filipinos facing the potential threat of what could be the largest mass deportation in American history, the TUCP looks forward to working together with the Marcos Administration to consolidate efforts with urgency and dispatch to ensure the just transition of our kababayan,” TUCP Vice President Luis Corral said.

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to “deport all immigrants” residing in the US illegally in his four-year term and has expressed his intent to take executive action on his first day in office to end birthright citizenship, which currently grants citizenship to anyone born in the US regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

However, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said there may yet be stumbling blocks to the implementation of Trump’s controversial EO as a growing number of states are challenging it in court.

“There are already about 22 states as of an hour ago that have filed a suit against this executive order because it [birthright citizenship] is precisely in their constitution. We don’t know where that’s going… and that’s going, of course, all the way to the US Supreme Court,” he told ANC on Wednesday.

Romualdez emphasized that even undocumented immigrants have rights, and that the Philippine Embassy has been in touch with lawyers to clarify those rights.

The diplomat said that Filipinos who have a legal path toward US citizenship should immediately get lawyers to help them with their immigration goals, while those who are there illegally should go back to the Philippines voluntarily.

For its part, TUCP, one of the Philippines’ largest trade unions, affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Marcos administration “to protect and promote the welfare of our kababayan in the United States spearheaded by an intensified information and education campaign to reach out to them about their rights, available resources, and assistance, especially accessible, affordable—ideally free—legal assistance.”

“We strongly advocate for a unified, coherent response, ranging from legal assistance to reintegration services, not only to enable the Government to effectively oversee these initiatives but also to empower our kababayan with a one-stop shop for accessible and comprehensive services,” Corral said.

He also highlighted the challenges faced by Filipinos due to illegal migration, particularly the lack of stable, well-paying jobs to support their families, stressing the need for equitable opportunities.

“We are prepared to accelerate efforts to reintegrate returning kababayan not just through employment facilitation but also through public employment programs led by the swift full implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act in synergy with DOLE and DTI,” Corral concluded.

As this developed, Tom Homan, the incoming border czar under Trump, affirmed that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “will start arresting public safety threats and national security threats on day one.”   - By Rachelle Tonelada

PH unemployment, underemployment fall in November 2024 amid holiday season; TUCP weighs in

TUCP CELEBRATES 49TH ANNIVERSARY: NEARLY HALF A CENTURY OF ADVOCACY IN ACTION FOR FILIPINO WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Our 49 long years of being the country's largest labor center began way back in 1975 when our founder Atty. Democrito “Ka Kito” T. Mendoza realized that for our unions and our federations to best fight for and win job security, higher wages, and decent work—we should be “giving the labor movement, through its collective force, an opportunity to exercise its political power.”

Today, our one big labor family TUCP remains that collective force as the leading voice and force in labor advocacy through tripartism with our very own workers' representatives at the forefront in influencing policy through our TUCP Party-list in Congress that uplifts the lives and livelihood of each and every Filipino worker and their family.

That’s why, amid the many challenges we confronted and conquered for nearly five decades, the TUCP Party-list continues to work for laws for the workers, especially the unorganized, by giving them jobs, justice, and equity.

Next year will be both our 50th Anniversary as well as the 2025 National and Local Midterm Elections: Tuloy ang laban ng TUCP para sa manggagawang Pilipino sa Kongreso!

We are the only workers' party in Congress today who successfully pushed for the passage of the 4Ps Law for those who have less in life, creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) para sa ating mga bagong bayani, Expanded Maternity Leave para sa kababaihan—at marami pa tayong ipapasang batas para sa manggagawa!

For nearly half a century, the TUCP has fought for living wages, security of tenure, and decent work inside and outside of Congress. 

We increased the minimum wage of every region every year. Pero barya-barya hindi sapat! Tuloy ang laban para sa ₱150 across-the-board wage hike ng TUCP!

We passed the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill for the regularization of all permanent temporary & 5-5-5 ENDO workers back in the previous Administration. Na-veto pero hindi tayo susuko! Tuloy ang laban para sa SOT ng TUCP!

We filed bills and resolutions to make decent work a reality for all, lalo na para sa ating informal workers at delivery platform riders.

Dahil sa TUCP, laging una ang manggagawa!

‘Ka Kito’ once said, “If you have the people behind your campaign, believe me, the fight is already won 90%!” Let us make 2025 our golden year by mobilizing our worker-members and leaders in our respective unions and federations.

Because without all of you, there can be no TUCP that can unify Philippine labor, pass labor reforms, and extend medical, financial, employment, and education assistance to Filipino workers and their families.

Tuloy ang laban ng TUCP para sa manggagawang Pilipino sa Kongreso!

Ipanalo ang manggagawa at pamilyang Pilipino!

Mabuhay ang TUCP!

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#TUCP49thANNIVERSARY  

#unaangmanggagawa