Employers Appeal for Labor Policy Reform

Employers are calling on the government to make changes to old regulations and reevaluate current investment incentives geared towards investment-led economic growth to protect workers, and supply safety nets to job creators, specifically the micro small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in light of rapidly changing jobs and work environment.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) Chairman Mr. Edgardo G. Lacson, stressed that “We need to reform antiquated regulations and craft relevant policies and action items to help promote and sustain employment in the new world of work,”

Chairman Lacson has also encouraged the government to join ECOP in their talks on the demand for stronger social protection for workers, specifically workers that are currently transitioning between jobs or have been displaced.

However, Lacson is also highlighting the government’s need to re-examine laws and policies that are currently in place about investment incentives with the transformation of traditional jobs with digital skills, information technology, and data analytics.

“Human capital investment is a cost-effective strategy that will support inclusiveness and yield long-term socio-economic dividends,”  says Lacson.

Reforms in labor policy are important when it comes to transitions such as working from home or remote or flexible arrangements.

“Business must adapt to compete for talent with the noticeable shift in employees’ preference for work flexibility, mobility, and greater autonomy given the inefficient transport infrastructure in the country,” he adds.

Lacson cited his comments regarding the long lockdowns implemented during the height of the pandemic. According to him, COVID-19 had brought forth the vulnerabilities of the country even beyond health issues.

Lacson says “It was confusion worse confounded as authorities experimentally applied a military solution of lockdown which nearly crippled our economy to solve this pharmaceutical problem,

Source: Manila Bulletin