Nagkaisa Urges Marcos to Implement Labor Education Act IRR

Here is a rewritten version of the blog post with a polished and professional tone

Title Urging Fulfillment Nagkaisa Calls on President Marcos to Implement Labor Education Act

As the modern workforce continues to evolve, it has become increasingly crucial to emphasize the significance of labor education. In response, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition has issued a pressing appeal to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., urging him to expedite the publication of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act (RA) 11551, or the Labor Education Act.

Signed into law on May 27, 2021, RA 11551 took effect on June 22, 2021. The legislation mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to develop its IRR within 60 days of its effectivity – by August 21, 2021.

However, it has been a staggering 1,595 days since the deadline, with no IRR published or enforced. Nagkaisa aptly describes this delay as a clear defiance of the law, emphasizing that no one is above the law, not even government agencies.

The Labor Education Act's primary objective is to educate future workers, employers, and entrepreneurs on their rights and responsibilities. This importance was underscored when a 6.9 earthquake hit Cebu in September 2022, highlighting the need for labor education as reports emerged of some business process outsourcing (BPO) firms allegedly forcing employees to continue working and preventing evacuation during the tremor.

These incidents illustrate why labor education is not optional but essential. By educating students and young people on their rights and responsibilities, we can prevent abuse, save lives, and strengthen industrial peace.

Nagkaisa invokes the 1987 Constitution, stressing that public office is a public trust and that the president has the duty to ensure laws are faithfully executed. The coalition presents two demands first, that the president direct CHED and Tesda to immediately finalize and publish the IRR; and second, that he ensure administrative accountability for the four-year failure to implement the law.

Every day of inaction further deprives students and young people of education that could prevent abuse, save lives, and strengthen industrial peace. It is imperative that President Marcos Jr. takes immediate action to address this pressing issue and fulfill the promise of RA 11551.

Keywords Labor Education Act, Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Nagkaisa Labor Coalition.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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