MANILA–The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that President Rodrigo Duterte may have a surprise for workers on May 1, Labor Day.

“We are preparing an announcement by the President to address the issue of wages para naman may maibigay siyang regalo pagdating ng Mayo 1,” said Labor and Employment Silvestre Bello III at a press conference in Manila Wednesday afternoon regarding the government’s preparations for the commemoration of 115th Labor Day.

But, he did not give any specific details as to what would be the possible benefits for the workers.

“Basta benefits lang. Depende kay President (Duterte). We are not yet sure kung ano ‘yung announcement niya… basta may announcement,” the Labor and Employment chief assured.

“We realized the workers will need some ayuda (assistance) but you would also have to consider the position of management,” he added.

President Duterte is set to lead Labor Day rites in Davao on Monday.

“We are honored that the President himself will be gracing our main Labor Day celebration,” Bello said.

The Chief Executive will be leading the Labor Day assembly and dialogue with workers at the People’s Park in Davao City.

“The President, together with labor officials will meet trade union leaders from the national and local federations to discuss and address labor and employment issues and concerns,” he said.

The meeting will be followed by a Labor Day Assembly which will be attended by about 10,000 workers. It will serve as an avenue for different labor and civil society organizations, as well as ordinary workers from the public, formal, informal, youth, women, and migrant sectors to come as one to commemorate the achievements of the labor movement and to continuously advocate for better working, economic, and social conditions.

During the activities a house and lot from the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) and 15 tricycle units from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) will be raffled.

Another highlight of this year’s Araw ng Paggawa is the simultaneous Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) job and business fairs which will be conducted in 55 various sites throughout the country.

The activity replicates the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) initiative of the DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which aims to bring employment opportunities and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, hence the localization of the job and business fairs.

There will be a total of 201,811 employment opportunities from 1,138 participating employers composed of 8 government agencies, 889 local companies, and 241 overseas employers.

Among the vacancies, 3,422 are in the government sector; while in the private sector 69,944 are local jobs and 128,445 are overseas employment.