MANILA, Philippines – With the theme “Matuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kaunlaran para sa Lahat (Straight Path Towards Progress for All),” the 2011 Labor Day celebration aims to facilitate workers’ and employers’ search for jobs and skills, respectively, and optimize their capabilities to contribute to economic growth.

In partnership with the private sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will offer over 100,000 jobs at Nationwide Job and Livelihood Fairs in numerous designated venues around the country, with Rizal Park, Manila, as the main venue. The DoLE has tapped social networking sites to reach out to more jobseekers and make them aware of the Labor Day activities.

May 1 is a national holiday for workers in many countries worldwide. It was first celebrated in 1903 when the country was still under the American rule. Over 100,000 workers organized by the Union Obrera Democratica de Filipinas (UODF) marched to Malacañang on the first day of May in that year to demand better working conditions. Ten years later, on May 1, 1913, Congreso Obrero de Filipinas was organized. Since then, Labor Day in the Philippines has been observed with parades and celebrations by the labor sector. In 1913, a law establishing Labor Day was passed.

We wish our jobseekers success in their search for employment that would match their skills to enable them to support their families and contribute to the growth of our economy.

We pay tribute to our millions of workers, here and abroad, who collectively contribute toward propelling our national and global economic activities with their industry, sacrifice, and hard work, proving themselves crucial and reliable agents of progress and development.