Muling uupo bilang kalihim ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang beterano sa naturang posisyon na si Bienvenido Laguesma.

Si Laguesma ang napili ni presumptive president Ferdinand Marcos Jr., na maging labor secretary, na dati na ring hinawakan ang naturang posisyon sa ilalim ng mga nagdaang administrasyon nina Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada at Benigno Aquino III.

“It's really a privilege and I am deeply indebted for the opportunity to be of service to the country,” ayon kay Laguesma sa panayam ng ANC.

Ayon kay Laguesma, nais niyang makabuo ng “workable formula” para mabalanse ang alintana ng mga employer at worker. Nais din niyang matugunan ang kawalan ng trabaho bunga ng coronavirus pandemic.

Sinabi pa ng incoming labor chief na gusto niyang pasiglahin ang local employment, dahil na rin sa “social costs” ng pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa.

"I would make my pitch for more employment... local employment. Because as I oversee overseas employment as providing us the needed foreign exchange remittances, I also look at the social costs that go with it—separation of family, too much dependence on foreign remittance, spending more than what you are actually earning and not saving for the future,” ani Laguesma.

“I also intend to work closely with DMW (Department of Migrant Workers). I’m trying to make a link but my foremost point is that my mission should be to promote and create with the help of industry concerns more employment opportunities so that our workers will have an option really of choosing to stay with their families..  maybe not with very lucrative salaries but enjoying, probably watching the growing up of their own children,” patuloy niya.

Bukod kay Laguesma, ilan pa sa mga napiling maging miyembro ng Gabinete ni Marcos ay sina presumptive vice president Sara Duterte (Education) Atty. Vic Rodriguez (executive secretary), Susan “Toots” Ople (Department of Migrant Workers), Cavite Rep. Boying Remulla (Department of Justice) at Arsenio Balisacan (National Economic Development Authority). —FRJ, GMA News