The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday, August 2, that it has remained committed to enhancing initiatives that promote employment opportunities and safeguard the rights of Filipino workers under the Marcos administration.

From July 2022 to May 2024, DOLE conducted strict nationwide inspections of 103,669 establishments and 9.019 million employees to enforce labor and occupational safety standards.

The efforts were supplemented by technical advisory visits to 237,914 micro-enterprises, which significantly improved compliance and workplace safety across diverse sectors, the DOLE said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) also provided 2,385 training sessions during this period, benefiting 84,505 workers on various safety topics, while more than 88,000 workers received technical services support.

To address economic challenges, DOLE issued 32 wage orders between June 2023 and April 2024, raising minimum wages nationwide and ensuring fair compensation for workers.

Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) includes 220 learning sessions and tailored consultancy services for over 900 businesses, with an emphasis on salary management and regulatory changes.

DOLE said that its initiatives also prioritized worker welfare through expanded service charge distribution policies, disaster response training, and health advisories promoting immunization and protection from workplace hazards.

Sector-specific safety measures were also introduced for construction workers.

In legislative strides, DOLE said it has worked with the Congress to enact the Caregivers Act and Eddie Garcia Law, which protect the rights and welfare of domestic caregivers and the entertainment industry, respectively.

On the international front, the DOLE said that the country ratified the pioneering International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 190, setting a precedent in Asia, and earned major positions in ILO bodies.