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)