PH employers’ group readies industry wish list for gov’t

The country’s largest employer group said on Wednesday it would submit an industry wish list to the Marcos administration, with the aim of improving the jobs and labor sector in the country.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) board member Antonio Sayo said this during the 43rd National Conference of Employers at the Mariott Hotel in Manila roughly two months after President Marcos took office after winning the May elections.

“COVID-19 was not just a health crisis, it was also a jobs crisis,” he said in his opening speech, adding that there will be a set of resolutions, including call-to-action plans after the two-day conference.

For his part, ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the pandemic made employers in the country reassess their current capacities and reimagine their goals for the future.

“This is proof of the relevance of ECOP, which champions responsible employers, sustainable business, inclusive work place,” Ortiz-Luis said in a speech, noting that the employers’ group has not convened face-to-face after almost three years due to the health crisis.

Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, who was also present at the event, said he expected concrete and doable solutions in the wish list from the participating companies which they could include in the Philippine Development Plan.

“As a modern market economy, we count on the private sector, especially on employers and business organizations like ECOP, to create and generate jobs,” Laguesma said, adding that the government is fully committed to fostering a policy environment conducive to job creation.

To do this, Laguesma said the Marcos administration is focused on attracting domestic and foreign investments, improving basic infrastructure, promoting effective governance and institutions, and enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring social protection for all people.

“Following the whole of government approach, DOLE will be pursuing its mandate by working closely with other departments so that our common objectives of establishing the enabling environment will pour investments,” Laguesma said further.