“As we face changing economic pressures, rest assured that this administration stands firm in defending the dignity of every Filipino by creating more and better jobs, boosting worker protection, and broadening pathways for all to succeed,” he said.

He said the Filipino workforce remains “at the heart” of the administration’s agenda in building a “stronger, more equitable, and more hopeful” Philippines.

“We honour every member of our workforce whose hands carry the weight of our shared future – whether at sunrise, beneath the noonday heat, or in the long hours when the nation sleeps,” he said.

“Even as technology advances and industries transform, one truth endures: it is the Filipino worker who drives the Philippines forward and keeps the world in motion. Through your grit and sacrifice, families find stability, and the country finds strength,” he added.

The commemoration of Labour Day, the president said, must serve beyond observance but as a platform where both public and private sectors reaffirm commitment “to build a country where hard work is rewarded and opportunity is real.”

“Together, let us fulfil this promise by fostering an environment that respects honest labour, safeguards livelihoods, and ensures that progress is accessible to ordinary families,” he said.