In a May 1 message, Sec. Taguiwalo said that May 1 is in honor of the Philippine labor movement and all the contributions that workers have made and continue to make for the country.

“As we all continue to protect our workers’ hard-earned labor rights and campaign for others such as the right to enjoy security of tenure via regularization, I express my solidarity with all workers nationwide and globally who are joining Labor Day activities organized by various labor groups in their localities. This is a fitting way to honor Filipino workers, here and abroad and ourselves included, who continue to make immense sacrifices for family and country, ” she said.

The welfare chief also declared her support for the continuing campaign of workers and employees for higher wages and better benefits.

“Labor rights are human rights, and Filipino workers deserve to have their rights upheld and respected. We cannot have genuine progress or true development so long as the living and working conditions of workers in the country do not improve. I salute our workers and stand with them in their fight for dignity,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo has also been invited to speak at the rally organized by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in Liwasang Bonifacio in the afternoon. As a long-time academic and non-academic union organizer in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Sec. Taguiwalo always attends Labor Day actions every year.