TITLE VII LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Chapter 1 General Provisions SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - The Autonomous Regional Government recognizes labor as a primary social economic force for development. It shall afford full protection to labor, promote full employment, ensure equal work opportunities regardless of gender, race, or creed, regulate the relations between workers and employer, and promote the right of labor to its just share in the fruits of production, and the right of enterprise to reasonable returns on investments and to expansion and growth. SEC. 2. Mandate. - The Department shall be the primary policy-making, programming, coordinating and administrative entity of the Executive Branch of the Autonomous Regional Government in the field of labor and employment. It shall assume primary responsibility for: (1) The promotion of gainful employment opportunities and the optimization of the development and utilization of the region's manpower resources; (2) The advancement of workers' welfare by providing for just and humane working conditions and terms of employment; and (3) The maintenance of industrial peace by promoting harmonious, equitable, and stable employment relations that assures equal protection for the rights of all concerned parties. SEC. 3. Powers and Functions. - The Department of Labor and Employment shall: (1) Enforce social and labor legislation to protect the working class and regulate the relations between the worker and his/her employer; (2) Formulate and recommend regional policies, plans and programs for manpower development, training, allocation and utilization; (3) Recommend legislation to enhance the material, social and intellectual improvement of the region‟s labor force; (4) Protect and promote the interest of every constituent desiring to work locally or overseas by securing to him the most equitable terms and conditions of employment, and by providing social and welfare services; (5) Regulate the employment of aliens within the ARMM, including the establishment of a registration and/or work permit system for such aliens, as provided for by national or regional laws; (6) Formulate general guidelines concerning wage and income policy; 118