Workers’ Forum on Key Labor Bills Filed in the 20th Congress

The University of the Philippines Law Center – Workers and Employees Program (UPLC-WEP), the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sectoral Council (NAPC-FLMWSC) jointly conducted the “Workers’ Forum: Talakayan hinggil sa Security of Tenure bills, Freedom of Association bills, Living Wages bills, at ilang amendments sa Labor Code” on 1 August 2025. The whole-day event took place at Function Rooms A and B of Bocobo Hall, UP Diliman, and focused on labor-related bills filed in the House of Representatives and the Senate during the 20th Congress. A total of 66 participants attended, representing 26 unions and workers’ organizations, along with one media organization.

The Workers’ Forum opened with remarks from Atty. Arnold F. de Vera, Program Director of UPLC-WEP. He explained that with the start of the 20th Congress, the forum would focus on legislative bills covering three key areas: security of tenure, wages and benefits, and freedom of association.

As a call to action, FFW President Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula shared his experiences as a laborer and invited the participants, as workers and unionists, to actively participate in shaping labor legislation.  To formally open the event, Mr. Danilo A. Laserna of the NAPC-FLMWSC encouraged attendees to understand the proposed labor measures, gather insights and feedback, and build consensus.

The first session was moderated by Atty. Jasper Frederick C. Briones of UPLC-WEP and tackled bills proposing minimum wage increases, the establishment of living wage standards, and the nationalization of minimum wage-fixing. He also presented the UPLC Proposed Revised Labor Code provisions on the national minimum wage and Industry Boards.

In the second session, Atty. Emir-Deogene V. Mendoza of UPLC-WEP facilitated a discussion where he highlighted proposed legislation concerning security of tenure and connected these with UPLC’s own provisions under the Proposed Revised Labor Code. Participants raised various concerns related to security of tenure in their respective sectors, including issues affecting private school teachers and workers in the construction industry, as well as the threat posed by artificial intelligence to the workforce.

The third session, led by Atty. Arnold F. de Vera, focused on freedom of association. Among the concerns discussed during the open forum are the difficulties and challenges faced by labor organizers, including the stigma against unions in the country and the rigidity of the current laws on unionism. Participants conveyed their aspirations for a more democratic framework for labor relations, one that would eliminate the current system’s bias against unionism.

Following the three sessions, the forum concluded with the awarding of certificates of appreciation to the speakers and closing remarks by Atty. Matula of FFW. He recapitulated the next steps toward the passage of proposed legislation, such as refining the proposals and initiating dialogues with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and members of Congress, particularly those in the Labor Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives. He underscored the importance of forums such as this in addressing workers’ concerns in labor law reform and expressed hope that the event would lead to more opportunities for collaboration between labor organizations and the UPLC in advancing positive change for Filipino workers.