Incoming Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Sunday that he plans to meet with the outgoing administration’s labor officials as well as labor leaders to know the situation at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
According to Laguesma, he plans to know the situation first before laying out reforms for the industry.
"Gusto ko munang makipag-ugnayan doon sa sa aking dadatnan doon sa [Department of Labor and Employment] at hingin sa kanila 'yung status report, mga programa na ipinatutupad ng DOLE," Laguesma told DZRH in an interview.
(I want to coordinate first with the people at the Department of Labor and Employment, and ask for a status report, for programs implemented by DOLE.)
"Una ko ring gagawin 'yung pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga lider, hanay ng mga mangagawa at 'yun pong mga lider ng mga namumuhunan," he added.
(I will also coordinate with leaders, from the workers' sector, and investors.)
Laguesma said he believes that honest consultation must be made first so they could properly brainstorm for solutions to the problems faced by the industry.
"Isa ako sa mga naniniwala na dapat magkaroon ng mga matapat at tunay na konsultasyon sa kanila at the end of the day para sama-sama siguro naming pag-isipan kung ano ba ang nararapat na solusyon sa mga isyu at problema," he stressed.
(I am one of the people who believe that there should be an honest and true consultation with them at the end of the day so together we can think about solutions to issues and problems.)
Laguesma first started his career under DOLE under late Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., father of the president-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. who nominated him for the chief DOLE post.
He later served under former President Corazon Aquino, former president Fidel Ramos, and president Joseph Estrada also as secretary of labor and employment.
Laguesma, who accepted the position, said it was not an easy decision, but stressed that being considered was a "chance of a lifetime."
