Three-term senator and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda vowed on Saturday, April 30 to continue to pursue a pro-labor legislative agenda that would grant Filipino workers here and abroad additional protection and more guarantees for their welfare and benefits.

As she saluted the country’s workers on the eve of Labor Day, Legarda rallied Filipinos to unite in ensuring that the country’s workers, including domestic helpers, are given the protection and benefits guaranteed by law.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) Senate bet urged the national government to determine the specific needs of all Filipino workers and recommend to lawmakers the much-needed legislation that would deliver the identified requirements.

“May 1 is a reminder to all Filipinos to unite to further strengthen our efforts to address the immediate concerns of all Filipino workers and to protect their rights and privileges as guaranteed by law,” Legarda said.

The incumbent Antique congresswoman said her legislative agenda as a senator prioritizes in equal footing the urgent needs of both overseas and locally-employed workers.

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), Legarda seeks executive and legislative action to provide workers adequate and well-financed legal assistance; quick-reaction repatriation program and the implementation of reintegration program for displaced workers.

She said legislative support to guarantee industrial peace and respect for unionism is also a vital part of her agenda.

Legarda’s current Senate bid has been endorsed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the largest labor confederation in the country. The TUCP cited her initiatives to improve labor conditions, raise decent wages for workers and advance the protection of workers welfare.

“Safe and conducive work conditions and standards for our laborers will never be compromised for the sake of expeditious completion of projects and more profit for management,” said Legarda, a leading senatorial candidate under the UniTeam ticket.

The Lower House official also vowed to push for legislative measures that would protect domestic workers, whether locally or abroad, against unfair working condition and abusive employers.

During her stint in the Senate, Legarda sponsored the International Labour Organization Convention 189 that enjoins member nations like the Philippines to ensure that domestic workers enjoy fair terms of employment and decent working conditions.

Legarda also co-authored pro-labor measures such as the Domestic Workers (Kasambahay) Act; Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its expanded version; the Anti-Child Labor Act; Public Employment Service Office (PESO); Barangay Kabuhayan Act; the Green Jobs Act and the Job Start Philippines Act, among others.