At least 1,130 jobseekers celebrated Labor Day with new jobs after getting hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) during the pre-Labor Day job fair in Tarlac last Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.
Citing the preliminary data from the DOLE-Region 3, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said this was almost a third of the 3,475 applicants, who attended the one-day job facilitation activity in Central Luzon.
At least 2,186 of the applicants were asked for further interview, while 42 were ''near-hires,'' after they were referred to the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for additional training.
Some 21,000 jobs vacancies were offered during the job fair in Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac City, which was attended by President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also launched its repackage reintegration program during the event, which aims to attract more retiring OFWs to start their own businesses.
At least five OFW beneficiaries received a total of P1.8 million worth of loans for their business ventures ranging from palay and rice trading to sword making during the launch.
Under the new Mag-Impok...Magnegosyo Movement (OFW-m3), OFWs will be given a cooperative arrangement with at least 20 members, which be required to have a set of officers, who will then undergo a month-long training from OWWA.
They will then serve as OWWA's local chapter in their respected area and would be consulted in crafting administrative systems to further institutionalize the program.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, meanwhile, cited the importance of labor over capital or profit in yesterday's Labor Day celebration.
''Sa paggawa wag kakalimutan na hindi tubo, profit ang pinaka-unang norm or criterium. Ang una pa din lagi ay ang dangal ng tao na nilikha na kawangis ng Diyos at binigyan ng Diyos ng banal na misyon para ibahagi sa kanyang paggawa,'' he said in his homily in a Mass yesterday at Quiapo Church in Manila.
''The primacy of the human person over capital and profit. Yan po ang una,'' added Tagle.
Even Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma had cited the same thing in a previous Labor Day message.
He said the Church has always been on the side of the poor workers against the richer management side and would like to see the needs of laborers addressed.
Renato Reyes of Bayan, expressed his gratitude to the cardinal for his message.
''Pinakamahalaga ang unang mungkahi ni Cardinal Tagle regarding the primacy of the human being, the primacy of labor over profits kasi yun ang nakakalimutan ng nasa government ngayon. Hindi napapahalagahan ang gawa, di napapahalagahan ang tao mas inuuna ang tubo, ang kikitain,'' he said in an interview after the Mass.
In his homily, Tagle took the opportunity to thank the country's laborers for their great contribution to the society.
Even if he turned down proposals of labor groups to increase the minimum wage at this time, President Aquino should keep the door open for future wage hike dialogues and remain optimistic it can be done to show his government's sincerity in protecting the rights and welfare of workers, United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Jack Enrile said yesterday.
''It's unfortunate that workers' groups observed Labor Day without any wage increase or significant nonwage benefits despite the growing economy,'' Enrile said.
''But wage hike should still be an option (for the government),'' Enrile reiterated.
San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito-Estrada urged the various labor groups to continue pressing for a legislated wage hike.
But Ejercito-Estrada said it is high-time Congress intervenes to provide the much -needed relief for the millions of poor Filipino workers.
According to Ejercito-Estrada, Filipino workers who earn a minimum daily wage or less are no longer able to cope with the persistent increase in the price of basic goods and services.
''I intend to bring up the matter to Congress if I am elected in the Senate. With the price of consumer items increasing every year, the current minimum wage given to workers is not enough to enable them to buy basic necessities,'' said Ejercito-Estrada, vice-chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment.
Meanwhile, Nacionalista Party-Team PNoy senatorial candidate and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar said the firm commitment to good governance that paves the way for the delivery of fresh investments and job opportunities would be the best gift government can give its workers on Labor Day.
Villar also thanked the labor sector for declaring its support for her senatorial bid, saying the expression of confidence would prompt her to work harder to propose pro-labor measures when elected into the Senate.
She said she was humbled by the support extended to her and seven other senatorial candidates by the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) under the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the biggest labor confederation in the country.
The workers' group, which boasts a membership of 110 labor unions, declared its support for Villar and the other candidates in a general assembly in the TUCP headquarters in Quezon City on Wednesday.
In her Labor Day message to the country's workers, Villar said the Nacionalista Party is committed to support the reform agenda of President Aquino to bring about good governance, an improved economy, more jobs and better services to the people, particularly the poor and the marginalized, in the next three years.
''I believe the best Labor Day gift we can give our workers will be our commitment to pursue good governance which is a sure-fire formula to revitalize our economy and create the much needed jobs being clamored by our workers for a long time now,'' Villar said.

Source: Manila Bulletin - May 2, 2013