Manila, May 1 -- As the country celebrates Labor Day, key members of the Philippine Senate called for decisive reforms to ensure fair wages, stronger protections, and inclusive opportunities across all sectors of the labor force.

"Ang Labor Day ay isang mahalagang pagkakataon upang bigyang-pugay ang ating mga manggagawa - - ang tunay na haligi ng ating ekonomiya (Labor Day is an important opportunity to honor our workers -- the true pillars of our economy)," Senate President Francis Escudero said in a statement Thursday.

Escudero noted that more than 50 million Filipinos comprise the country's labor force, spanning vital sectors such as agriculture, construction, transportation, and manufacturing.

Senator Loren Legarda, meanwhile, emph...