The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) calls on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to immediately declare Monday, May 12, 2025—the day of the national and local midterm elections—a holiday to protect and promote the fundamental right to vote of tens of millions of Filipino workers.
“For every Filipino who rises early and works with honesty and dignity each day, May 12 is not a day off—it is a day to survive, to earn, and to feed their families. But it must also be a day to vote. Mr. President, declaring May 12 as a holiday now—rather than later—sends a clear message: that in our democracy, workers’ votes count and their voices matter,” stated TUCP President and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza (TUCP Party-list).
The country’s largest labor center TUCP warns that while election days are often declared holidays, last-minute announcements force daily wage earners to choose between earning a day’s pay and casting their vote, deepening voter disenfranchisement and weakening grassroots democracy.
“We remind all that election is not merely a civic ritual but a powerful tool to empower citizens, especially the marginalized and underrepresented, like us in the labor sector, to hold our leaders accountable and shape our future. Declaring May 12 a holiday now gives both workers and businesses time to adjust schedules and vote without fear of lost income or retaliation. Let no obstacle—not even a day’s wage—stand in the way of our right to be heard,” explained Mendoza.
“Through our TUCP Party-list as the only workers’ party in Congress today, we will pursue legislation to make election day a regular holiday with double pay. This would correct the current setup where election days are merely special non-working holidays under the ‘no work, no pay’ rule unless there is a favorable company policy or provision in the collective bargaining agreement. But the harsh reality is that the vast majority of Filipino workers remain unorganized, with little to no protection. For nearly a decade, the Philippines has ranked among the worst countries for workers, particularly in upholding freedom of association and the right to collectively bargain collectively. It is high time to change that,” added Mendoza.
