MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced the availability of 10,000 job openings, primarily in customer service and call center positions, following a high vacancy rate.

According to the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), from February 7 to 13, nearly 10,000 positions were listed for customer service assistants and call center agents—4,961 positions each.

Additionally, 3,492 openings are available for production machine operators, and there are 2,707 job vacancies for production workers. Around 1,000 positions for domestic helpers are also open.

The job vacancy data is sourced from the Public Employment Service Office’s Employment Information System and the government’s PhilJobNet job matching portal.

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MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) emphasized the importance of considering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) before implementing the proposed P200 daily wage increase.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, speaking at the Saturday News Forum, explained that MSMEs, which make up over 95% of businesses in the Philippines, could be significantly impacted by the wage hike.

He noted that the department is not opposing the proposal but is offering technical advice to assess its potential effects on employment, inflation, and economic growth, with the help of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, of the 1.25 million businesses in the country as of 2023, 99.63% are MSMEs. Micro enterprises alone account for 90.43% of this total. MSMEs collectively employ 66.97% of the national workforce, with micro enterprises contributing the largest share.

While DOLE is prepared to implement the wage increase if it becomes law, Laguesma clarified that Congress holds the responsibility for passing such legislation. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also called for further study of the proposal, citing concerns about its impact on MSMEs.

The House Committee on Labor and Employment recently approved a bill mandating the PHP200 wage increase for private sector workers, applicable to all businesses regardless of size. The bill prohibits offsetting the increase with previous wage adjustments unless specified in collective bargaining agreements.

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By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma has signed an order outlining new rules and regulations for the employment of foreigners in the Philippines, specifically the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) Guidelines.

DOLE stated that the revised AEP guidelines represent a significant step toward streamlining the process and rationalizing the requirements for issuing work permits to foreign nationals.

The changes aim to strike a balance between promoting investment, protecting local labor, and ensuring the transfer of skills to Filipino workers, the agency added.

“Itinatakda ng mga binagong alituntunin ng AEP ang mga makabuluhang hakbang tungo sa rasyonalisasyon ng mga kinakailangan at pagsasaayos ng pagproseso ng mga permit sa pagtatrabaho para sa mga banyaga na naglalayong balansehin ang pagsulong ng pamumuhunan, lokal na proteksyon sa paggawa, at tiyakin ang paglilipat ng mga kasanayan sa mga manggagawang Pilipino,” said DOLE.

Over the past three years, DOLE has issued a total of 192,573 AEPs to foreign workers in various industries across the country.

This move aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., under Executive Order No. 18, Series of 2023, which seeks to boost foreign direct investment (FDI), according to DOLE.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma spearheaded the distribution of over ₱156 million in assistance to more than 31,000 workers and beneficiaries across the Bicol Region.

Laguesma oversaw the distribution through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Programs.

Simultaneously, job fairs were conducted in five Bicol provinces — Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Albay — offering over 2,000 employment opportunities to local job seekers.

These activities were organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in support of the nationwide launch of the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Para sa Lahat program, which aims to bring government services closer to the people, helping them establish livelihoods and meet their daily needs.

In his address, Laguesma underscored the importance of these initiatives, highlighting their direct impact on the lives of vulnerable Filipinos.

“These programs, from job fairs to TUPAD payouts and livelihood distributions, reflect the commitment of our President and government to provide adequate and quality services for every Filipino,” Laguesma said.

The Labor Secretary also encouraged beneficiaries and job seekers to fully utilize the opportunities to secure a better future.

“To our fellow citizens, take advantage of these programs. Prepare for your job interviews, accept the benefits you’ve received, and use the livelihood packages to improve your lives,” he added.

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By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment in SOCCSKSARGEN (DOLE XII) has introduced the Omnibus Guidelines on Freedom of Association, aimed at strengthening workers’ rights, improving workplace conditions, and fostering a more equitable labor environment in the region.

The two-day event, held on August 19 and 27 in Koronadal City, sought to ensure that all stakeholders, particularly in the private sector, were well-informed about their rights to organize, participate in collective bargaining, and engage in lawful trade union activities.

The guidelines outline the roles of various stakeholders, including government agencies, employers, and workers, in creating an environment where freedom of association is not only upheld but actively promoted and reinforced.

“Our goal is to ensure that all intended participants have a clear understanding of the guidelines and their implications,” said DOLE XII Regional Director Joel M. Gonzales.

Over 80 participants from workers’ associations, unions, and private establishments attended the rollout sessions.

The program’s activities included a comprehensive overview of the guidelines and an open forum for participants to express their concerns and ask questions.

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By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In the face of high prices of basic commodities, several labor groups have expressed dismay over the approved P35 minimum salary increase for the private sector in Metro Manila as they anticipated lower wage hikes outside the National Capital Region (NCR).

The labor groups under the National Wage Coalition (NWC) slammed the “measly” minimum wage hike in NCR and tagged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as “pro-capitalist”.

“Ang nakakalungkot pa po, parang ang DOLE at regional wage boards ay kumampi pa sa employers. They chose to side and take more consideration to the profits of capitalism and employers rather than towards a living wage,” Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Legislative Officer Paul Gajes lamented.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Secretary General Jerome Adonis said the approved increase in NCR will be used as a basis for setting the minimum wage in other regions even if wage petitions higher than P35 will be filed.

“Base sa karanasan, mas maliit ang kaya nilang ipasa sa mga region at nakakalungkot, maliit na nga, hinahati pa sa tranches. Barya na nga lang, pagdating sa mga region, binabarya pa lalo. Kitang-kita ‘yung kawalang respeto, kawalang pagkilala doon sa napakahalagang ambag ng mga manggagawa,” Adonis noted.

For the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), with the wage hike in NCR, set lower than the value requested in wage petitions, other Regional Wage Boards may push back in deciding on a new minimum wage in their areas.

“Hindi under pressure itong ibang wage boards to give increases now kasi ang panghahawakan nila ‘yong anibersaryo ng mga wage orders noong previous years. Therefore, it gives them much leverage na i-dribble ang wage petitions hanggang hindi na sila magbigay,” FFW Vice President Julius Cainglet quipped.

Last June 20, petitioners led by Partido Manggagawa (PM) called for a P1,207 minimum wage in the NCR and urged the Regional Tripartite and Productivity Board (RTWPB) to conduct a more in-depth study on the current needs of workers to ensure they earn living wages that would enable them to support their families.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Good news for the workers in the National Capital Region (NCR) as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has approved the P35 hike in the daily wage, increasing it from P610 to P645 for the non-agriculture sector.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has confirmed it in a statement, saying the wage hike was based on the three petitions filed by various labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating basic goods and commodities.

It added that the salary increase was also based on the various wage determination criteria provided under the Wage Rationalization Act.

However, DOLE said those in retail and service establishments regularly employing not more than 10 workers, and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters, may apply to the RTWPB for exemption from the wage increase.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address concerns regarding water insufficiency and food security.

The MOU was signed on Friday, May 31, integrating DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program and DSWD’s Project LAWA at BINHI.

Through the MOU, DOLE will extend its TUPAD Program to disadvantaged workers identified by local government units nationwide. The target beneficiaries include farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and other climate- and-disaster-vulnerable families.

According to DOLE, the TUPAD program is a safety net that provides temporary wage employment to disadvantaged workers through engagement in community, disaster recovery, and rehabilitation projects.

Meanwhile, Project LAWA at BINHI aims to implement activities focused on addressing water insufficiency and food security through various community projects.

(el Amigo/mnm)

Ni Liza Soriano

HINIMOK ng mga senador sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na bawiin ang mga permit sa pagtatrabaho ng mga dayuhang manggagawa sa mga hub ng Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) na kamakailan ay ni-raid ng mga awtoridad at napag-alamang sangkot sa mga ilegal na gawain.

Sa plenary deliberation ng 2024 budget ng DOLE, binuhay ni Senador Joel Villanueva ang isyu ng mga ilegal na pasilidad ng POGO na umano’y may mga sex den at torture chamber.

“This is already there, that’s legally documented, that they can be immediately, all those permits be cancelled, revoked, because they are working in illegal facilities.. Kung hindi natin gagawin iyan, they’ll just move to another illegal facility,” ayon kay Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Sinabi ng sponsor ng budget ng DOLE na si Sen. Loren Legarda na noong Oktubre 31, nasa 42,409 na ang mga employment permit na naibigay sa mga manggagawa ng POGO mula sa kabuuang 60,541 dayuhang manggagawa sa buong bansa.

“I am asking DOLE to review the 42,000 plus permits issued,” ayon kay Legarda.

Binanggit din ni Villanueva na noong 2019, nagkaroon ng panukala para sa inter-agency monitoring mechanism para sa mga manggagawa ng POGO.

(AI/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to expand its network of guidance counselors and career advocates to strengthen their career, vocational, and employment counseling services for job seekers.

Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. announced that the Department aims to address the barriers faced by job seekers wherever they are, through the Career Development Support Program (CDSP).

CDSP aims to assist individuals in finding suitable employment through career counseling, identifying appropriate upskilling or reskilling interventions through vocational counseling, and promoting the chosen career path through employment counseling.

In order to immediately implement such an initiative, Patriwirawan gave an orientation to the CDSP to the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) managers in local governments, career guidance advocates, as well as DOLE officials and staff in the regions.

He also emphasized the importance of the program to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the “future of work” which is characterized by disruption, digital transformation, and hybrid work.

Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PESO Managers Association of the Philippines (PMAP), and Federation of Career Guidance Advocates Network of the Philippines were the groups who are helping DOLE for the implementation of the program.

(AI/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

PRIVATE sector employers and workers are responsible for preventing gender-based sexual harassment (GBSH) in workplaces.

In his talk during the Orientation on Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act for frontline workers of SM supermalls nationwide, DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Santos M. Benavidez underscored that the law mandates employees and co-workers to prevent, deter, and report any form of GBSH in the workplace.

A product of the partnership between the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and SM Supermalls, the hybrid learning session attended by the mall chain’s janitorial and security personnel is the first in a series of seminars promoting gender equality and women empowerment in the company.

Citing the provisions of the law, the undersecretary also said that co-workers are urged to provide emotional or social support to fellow employees, co-workers, colleagues, or peers who are victims of GBSH.

Similarly, Undersecretary Benavidez also stressed the employers’ role in preventing, deterring, and punishing the conduct of GBSH acts in the workplace.

Establishments are mandated to constitute a Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), an independent internal grievance mechanism, tasked to investigate and resolve GBSH complaints, according to the DOLE exec.

The law requires the CODI to adequately represent the management, supervisory employees, rank-and-file employees, and the union if there is any. The committee shall also be headed by a woman and not less than half of its members shall be women.

The Committee is also mandated to observe due process and investigate and decide on the complaints within 10 days or less upon receipt thereof. It shall also protect the complainant from retaliation and guarantee confidentiality to the greatest extent possible.

PCW Executive Director and Officer-in-Charge, Atty. Kristine Rosary E. Yuzon-Chaves said the orientation is timely and significant as the nation gears for the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women in November.

She also cited the activity as a vital convergence between the public and private sectors in promoting gender equality and women empowerment.

SM Supermalls executives also expressed their support towards guaranteeing safe spaces for all.

“We must uphold this Act and ensure that SM Supermalls remain a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all. Today’s orientation is one way of reinforcing and promoting an open and nurturing environment as we serve each and every customer that comes into our mall,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance Group. (AI/MNM)