PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured workers that the government would be their "active partner" as he paid tribute to the hardships and sacrifices of the country's workforce on Labor Day.

In his Labor Day message, Marcos acknowledged the workers' contribution in the country's progress. "You can be assured that the government is not merely a bystander in our progress, but an active partner of the people in building a new Philippines — a society that is fair and just," he said. The President also assured workers: "We are deeply committed to never abandoning you, but instead, to continue supporting you — not merely as a duty, but as a gesture of gratitude and recognition for your true worth and sacrifices." Marcos then vowed to provide concrete measures to address the needs of workers and their families. The President had earlier cited the active participation of various government departments in government-led job fairs. He said that since 2022, at least 4,000 job fairs have been conducted, resulting in the employment of at least 160,000 individuals. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the agency extended more than P2.5 billion in emergency employment and livelihood assistance to more than 400,000 worker beneficiaries nationwide under its Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (Dileep). Laguesma said the employment and livelihood assistance is apart from the 216,144 job offerings, including 181,933 local vacancies and 34,211 overseas jobs, put up by 2281 employers during the Labor Day job fairs in 69 sites across the country. Dileep, which consists of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), will help a total of 406,781 Filipinos as of latest tally. Of this figure, 389,613 are listed under emergency employment through Tupad, while 17,168 are supported with livelihood grants or kabuhayan packages under DILP. Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) leads the regions in terms of allocated Dileep aid with P457.8 million for nearly 76,000 beneficiaries, followed by Western Visayas with P301.9 million for 50,600 beneficiaries, Eastern Visayas with P263.6 million for 45,000 beneficiaries and Davao Region with P259.6 million for 35,480 beneficiaries. The DOLE said the country's labor market continues to demonstrate resilience and improvement amid local and global economic disruptions. In 2024, the country recorded an average employment rate of 96.2 percent, an improvement from the previous year's 95.6 percent and 94.6 percent in 2022. The unemployment rate in 2024 stood at 3.8 percent, while underemployment dropped to 11.9 percent from 12.3 percent in 2023 and 14.2 percent in 2022. Although employment slightly dipped to 95.3 percent in July, it rebounded to 96.0 percent in August, 96.3 percent in September, 96.1 percent in October, 96.8 percent in November and peaked at 96.9 percent in December. By December 2024, unemployment had dipped to 3.1 percent, the lowest for the year — while underemployment also declined to 10.9 percent. The momentum continued at the start of 2025. In January, the employment rate stood at 95.7 percent, improving to 96.2 percent in February. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) honored overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in its Labor Day message. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said government agencies will continue the delivery of programs and services that support and develop the skills of OFWs. "We will not stop addressing your needs promptly, in recognition of your unparalleled diligence and perseverance," he said. Also on Thursday, the DMW held a job fair that saw 4,700 job vacancies. Countries covered by the job fair include Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Croatia, Germany, Guam, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lithuania, Macao, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. The available positions are from sectors that include manufacturing, health care, hospitality, information technology, professional and skilled trades. The DMW also said the job fair also introduced online preregistration and QR code scanning to streamline the process. "We believe in the capabilities of Filipino workers. In meetings held abroad, the first thing heads of state say is, 'Thank you for your Filipino workers. We are proud of them — they help our country, and they are helping the world,'" Cacdac said. The Department of Health (DOH) was on Code White Alert nationwide from May 1 to May 2, in preparation for any medical emergencies that may arise during the Labor Day observance. Under a Code White Alert, the DOH will mobilize all government hospitals to activate their Operations Centers and closely coordinate with regional and national DOH offices. "The DOH and its hospitals are ready. Just call our hotline 1555 for your needs," said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Also on Labor Day, the Akbayan party-list urged Malacañang to certify as urgent the proposed across-the-board wage hike of P200, which they said could boost the paychecks and the government's approval rating with working people. Akbayan first nominee Chel Diokno joined Labor Day rallies in Manila and Batangas with labor group Sentro and the Philippine Metalworkers Alliance. "We firmly stand for the passing of the P200 wage hike into law as soon as possible, as the last legislated wake hike was back in 1989. It's time to ease the burden on our workers through this wage increase. Let's not make them wait any longer," Diokno said in Filipino. Second nominee and current Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, who filed House Bill 11007, or the Anti-ENDO Law, that will regularize workers, also gave a perspective on the Marcos administration's aspiration to achieve upper-middle-income status in two years. "A meaningful wage hike is not just good economics, it's smart politics. If the government wants a high approval rating from the workers, it should grant the long-standing demand of the unions. Nothing earns public trust more than addressing everyday hardships," Cendaña said. Las Piñas City mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar celebrated Labor Day to unveil a comprehensive local jobs agenda, vowing to put the city's citizens at the forefront of economic growth. Speaking before supporters and workers in a Labor Day gathering, Aguilar said the annual celebration of labor is a time to "recognize the hardworking men and women who power our city" — and to recommit to ensuring they are not left behind as Las Piñas pursues development. "Labor Day is not just about honoring workers with words, but with real plans that create opportunity," Aguilar said. "Las Piñeros must be the first to benefit from the jobs and livelihood that our city's growth will bring."