"Stricter enforcement of law vs slave labor in Philippines sought", 28 May 202

THE GOVERNMENT of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should bolster efforts against human trafficking by inspecting businesses to ensure their workers get paid fair wages, analysts said at the weekend.

“A large number of the labor force suffer from low wages, irregular jobs, inadequate social protection and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions — a depiction of modern slavery,” Renato B. Magtubo, a former congressman and chairman of Partido Manggagawa, said in a Viber message.

He said the government should enhance the Labor department’s inspection and compliance system in business establishment to ensure workers are paid their wages and working conditions are up to standard.

He added that providing more public-sector jobs would deter Filipinos from turning to informal work, where unsafe working conditions are common.

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