Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Thousands of job seekers crowd the Labor Day Job Fair spearheaded by the Quezon City local government in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the MICE Convention Center in Quezon City on May 1, 2025. Close to 100 companies from private and government agencies offer 11,000 jobs to applicants seeking local and overseas employment opportunities. On-site services such as resume writing assistance, pre-employment orientation, and business registration booths are available to support applicants and aspiring entrepreneurs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

LABOR DAY JOB FAIR

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177972115194820250325harapan-tolentino-francis-AC23.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Newly-appointed acting Labor Sec. Francis Tolentino on on March 25, 2025. Alexis Carlo Corpuz, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Newly-appointed acting Labor Sec. Francis Tolentino on on March 25, 2025. <em>Alexis Carlo Corpuz, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Newly appointed Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino is pushing for the creation of an office that would provide free legal assistance to workers who cannot afford private lawyers in labor-related disputes.</p><p>Tolentino floated the proposal in an interview with Teleradyo on Monday, saying he plans to establish an attorney&#x27;s office, similar to a public attorney’s office’s function.</p><p>He said that Filipino employees may raise concerns over workers’ access to legal representation, contractualization, wage issues, and workplace protections in the Philippines through the labor attorney’s office.</p><p>Under the proposed measure, workers facing complaints and disputes before labor arbiters and labor tribunals would be given free legal aid and representation.</p><p>“Para ‘yong ating mga mahihirap na manggagawa na walang kapasidad na kumuha ng mamahaling abogado, pag may kaso sa labor arbiter o NLRC (National Labor Relations Commission), maaayudahan nang libre. Isa po ‘yon sa mga binabalangkas natin,” Tolentino said.</p><p>The former lawmaker said the initiative seeks to strengthen workers’ access to justice and ensure proper implementation of labor laws.</p><p>Aside from free legal aid, Tolentino also proposed wider training programs focused on decision-making and proper arbitration in handling labor disputes.</p><p>He said labor officials and stakeholders should undergo extensive training to improve the resolution of labor cases and implementation of labor regulations.</p><p>“Kailangan nating magkaroon ng malawakang pagsasanay din ‘yan. Alam naman nila ‘yong ginagawa nila pero i-refresher lang natin sa mga tamang [mode of decision making], how to do proper arbitration, etcetera,” Tolentino said. </p><p>Tolentino also acknowledged longstanding concerns over workers’ salaries and compensation, saying wage-related problems should be addressed alongside reforms in labor dispute mechanisms.</p><p>Tolentino also emphasized the need to prepare Filipino workers for the increasing use of artificial intelligence and automated systems in workplaces.</p><p>Tolentino said the country must develop a “future-ready” workforce capable of adapting to rapid technological changes brought by AI.</p><p>“Ang nakikita ko rito ay magkaroon tayo ng isang future-ready workforce na ang ating sinasanay na kabataan ay para sa gawaing kinabukasan, at hindi para sa trabaho ng nakaraan,” Tolentino said.</p><p>He likewise mentioned “algorithmic management,” or the use of AI-driven systems and software to monitor, evaluate, and manage employees’ performance and productivity.</p><p>According to Tolentino, safeguards should be established to ensure that emerging technologies would not compromise workers’ rights and welfare.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/ex-sen-francis-tolentino-is-new-dole-chief-1316"><strong>Ex-Sen. Francis Tolentino is new DOLE chief</strong></a></div><p><strong></strong>On regionalized wages, the acting labor chief said wage-setting must consider both productivity and living wage conditions in different regions. He also backed efforts to expand economic activity outside Metro Manila, but stressed the need for proper infrastructure, utilities, logistics, and skilled labor support before industries are relocated to other areas.</p><p>Meanwhile, Tolentino said the administration still has achievable targets for the labor sector in its remaining years, particularly in improving workforce readiness, workplace safety, and employment opportunities for the youth. </p><p>&quot;We should prepare the youth for the jobs of the future, not for the jobs created yesterday,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Asahan niyo na mas sisipagan ko. Mas bibigyan natin ng diin ang pagproteksyon din sa ating manggagawa without sacrificing the balance that is needed to make the management work,&quot; Tolentino added. -- <strong>with a report from Mon Rodelas, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0EAjzJAdk0Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>Newly-appointed Labor chief Francis Tolentino wants an attorney’s office that would provide free legal assistance to workers who cannot afford private lawyers in labor-related disputes.</p>

Newly-appointed Labor chief Francis Tolentino wants an attorney’s office that would provide free legal assistance to workers who cannot afford private lawyers in labor-related disputes.

Tolentino pushes free labor legal aid office, AI-ready workforce reforms

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Tolentino pushes free labor legal aid office, AI-ready workforce reforms

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2026 08:55 PM PHT

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Updated May 25, 2026 11:01 PM PHT

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DOLE

Francis Tolentino

labor

workers rights

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