President Rodrigo Duterte on Labor Day reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protect workers’ rights through “humanization of laws and equalization of social forces,” and urged the private sector to follow suit.

“Today, we celebrate the Filipino worker whose hard work serves as the very foundation of our nation’s prosperity and growth,” Duterte’s message read.

Duterte praised Filipino workers, whose “professional excellence and unmatched diligence” continue to benefit communities and industries worldwide.

Duterte also said the business sector has a “shared responsibility in improving the lives of our workers by providing them stable career opportunities and humane working conditions.”

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said on April 30 that a recovery plan for workers would be unveiled later today, amid the displacement of thousands of workers due to quarantine measures since mid-March. John Ezekiel J. Hirro