It was a realization of the President’s directive to the Human and Poverty Reduction Cluster to propose measures that will address the job mismatch and will further strengthen youth employability in the country. Using the mainstream language of social media, it followed the theme: ‘Follow the guide. Tag a career. Like the future’. According to the Honorable Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, the Congress is an innovation, a detour from the traditional measures to address the issue on jobs mismatch, and as such, it deserves a fresh and hip welcome by banking on the language known to people across almost all age brackets.”

Resource speakers from the De La Salle University – Angelo King Institute, Business Processing Association, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Philippine Constructors Association, and Philippine Travel Association were invited to share knowledge in their areas of expertise as well as to facilitate discussions through an Open Forum. The Congress also served as a venue to showcase good practices on career guidance and to provide updated and relevant Labor Market Information (LMI).

The two-day event was made possible through collaboration with partner agencies namely, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

14,258 HOTS on Labor Day Job Fair

PNoy keynotes Career Congress

A total of 14, 258 job applicants were Hired On-The-Spot (HOTS) last 1 May 2012, when the DOLE held a nationwide Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fair at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Government-backed job fairs were also held simultaneously in the country.

The annual activity centered on the theme: “Pagtutulungan. Pagbabago. Disenteng Trabaho.”, showcasing the government’s collaborative efforts with the private sector in providing jobseekers decent work and access to employment services.

As part of the government’s efforts in addressing the lingering problem of job mismatch in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) held the first ever National Career Advocacy Congress on 24-25 May 2012 at the Diamond Hotel, Manila.

The event is a flagship strategy developed for the nationwide implementation of the Career Guidance Advocacy Program (CGAP) which is aimed at inspiring and supporting career guidance counselors and various stakeholders in their roles to provide career guidance for the future jobseekers.

The Congress was graced by no less than President Benigno S. Aguino III who delivered a keynote message to an audience of 417 participants, which consisted of members from the Network of Guidance Counsellors,

government agencies, the academe, business owners, industry associations and youth delegates.

“Maraming salamat sa ating career guidance counselors sa paggagabay n’yo sa ating kabataan tungo sa pag-asenso. Sa tulong ninyo, maiiwasang ura-uradang pagpasok sa larangang wala namang trabahong aasahan.

– President Benigno S. Aquino III

DOLE intensifies fight against Trafficking in Persons

A one-stop-shop offering various government services from the National Statistics Office (NSO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) were made available to jobseekers to help them with their requirements when applying for a job. The livelihood component of the event lead by the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) involved product display, franchising exhibits, livelihood skills demonstration, and video presentations on success stories on skills training, job generation and entrepreneurship.His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino graced the event and opted to try the Job Search Kiosk, a job search facility connected to the Phil-JobNet, the official job portal of the Philippine government.

The Bureau of Local Employment was tasked to monitor job vacancy postings nationwide. Around 1,214 local and 392 overseas companies offering over 320,518 vacancies participated in the activity such as the Golden Arches Development Corporation, Sykes Asia, and SM Corporation, to name a few. A total of 96, 419 jobseekers trooped to the job fair venues held nationwide.

In its unrelenting efforts to fight entities that take advantage of children and other vulnerable members of the Filipino workforce, the DOLE recently issued Department Circular No. 02, also called the Manual of Procedures in Handling Complaints on Trafficking in Persons, Illegal Recruitment and Child Labor.

The manual, signed last 7 May 2012 will be used as a standard operating procedure for DOLE Regional/Field Offices in its implementation of the Labor Code following its provisions that were created to safeguard the welfare of the people, especially that of the children, women, and overseas workers. Examples of related policies are the R.A. 9231, the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, R.A 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, and R. A 10022, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995).

Through the step-by-step procedures included in the manual, it will serve as a guide for the organized handling and management of cases, complaints, reports and information on trafficking in persons, illegal recruitment and child labor. It contains legal measures to be used for the prosecution of the offenders as well as for the protection, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts accorded to the victims. It will also aid in the establishment of coordinated efforts among concerned agencies, with it the identification and prosecution of perpetrators.

“The DOLE will always endeavor to protect our workers and jobseekers against discrimination, exploitation, and violence. That battle rages on and it is our duty to win. -DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz

Layout Artists:Mr. Michael MaghariMs. Joyce PagalilawanMs. Jasper Joy Bayog

Contributing Writers: Ms. Rio Fe Del ValleMs. Sharie Anne Atie

Editorial Board:Director Maria Criselda SyMs. Ruth RodriguezMs. Jasper Joy Bayog

Upcoming Activities

The manual is user-friendly as flowcharts and illustrations of procedures are included. Said publication is part of the strategies included in the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016.

October 2012PESO Congress Finalization and Implementation of a Skilled Occupational Shortage List in the PhilippinesStakeholder Consulation on Industry Career Guides