People’s Park, Davao City
May 1, 2017

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte spoke before the different labor sectors during the Labor Day Assembly in People’s Park, Davao City.

The assembly commemorated the 115th year of International Labor Day with the theme, “Matatag na Kabuhayan at Trabaho Tungo sa Progresibong Pagbabago.”

The event served as an avenue for the various labor groups, civil society organizations, ordinary workers from the public sector, youth, informal and formal sectors, women, and migrant sectors to come as one and to commemorate the achievements of the labor movement, as well as to continuously advocate for better working, economic and social conditions.

“We pay tribute to the Filipino workers here and across the globe… Workers play a significant role in pushing for the rights to humane conditions at work, basic wages, and organized acts including collective bargaining and unionism,” President Duterte said in his message.

The President also spoke of promoting social dialogue in the public sector. “I am pleased to announce that I have decided to ratify the ILO Convention number 151 and endorse the same to the Senate for its concurrence. May this serve as a symbol of government’s commitment to continuously uphold the aspirations of a corrupt-free civil service,” he added.

About 8,000 people from the different labor sectors participated in the Labor Day Assembly with the Chief Executive of the Philippines.

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