LEP 2023 Has Formally Given the Green Light

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approves the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023 (LEP 2023) — which promises to usher in a new era of labor governance and equitable employment opportunities in the country.

The LEP 2023 aims to reduce unemployment and underemployment in the next five years of its implementation by creating better jobs for Filipinos.

Marcos Jr. underscores the LEP 2023 alignment with the government’s 8-point socio-economic agenda. He added that the plan will create over 3 million jobs amid the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plans to implement 70,000 infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” program.

What is the LEP 2023?

The LEP 2023 focuses on maximizing productive and sustainable work, ensuring that labor governance respects international labor standards and human rights, and building equitable and inclusive social protection. With the proper implementation of the LEP 2023, in the next five years, there should be a higher rate of employment, equal access to employment opportunities, and promotion of sustainable and resilient enterprises, especially Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

DOLE Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio Jr. said that the modernization of wage-setting policies needs a thorough review and access to the regulatory impact of wage laws.

Both the labor and employer sectors expressed support for the LEP but emphasized the importance of worker education. Secretary Laguesma assured that top-notch training programs would be made available through inter-agency collaboration to enhance employee skills and knowledge.

The LEP 2023 is expected to be implemented by September 2023. To ensure budget utilization efficiency, the DOLE aims for “100 percent” budget utilization by the end of 2023 to avoid budget cuts in 2024, in line with government efforts to enhance spending on social protection programs. (ASC)