DOLE seeks tripartite efforts to boost global demand for Filipino seafarers

To sustain the country's status as manning capital of the world, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will push for tripartite efforts to immediately address various issues and difficulties confronting the Philippine maritime sector, especially in expanding the sea-based sector as source of overseas employment for Filipinos.

"The DOLE will vigorously support its partners in the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC) not only in addressing common problems in the maritime sector but also in their target of capturing at least 50 percent of the total global requirements for Filipino seafarers in the next six years," Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said, adding "this is part of efforts to expand the sea-based OFW sector amidst the turmoil in the Middle East which has led to the repatriation of OFWs from Libya."

Baldoz initiated the establishment of the MITC early this year to provide the tripartite partners in the maritime sector a venue where common concerns can be addressed to ensure the country's capability to produce competent seafarers and port workers. Members include the Joint Manning Group (JMG), the umbrella organization of manning agencies.

JMG leaders, in a meeting with POEA Administrator Carlos Cao Jr., said the country's seafaring industry is aggressively targeting to increase global requirements for Filipino seafarers from 30 percent at present to 50 percent until 2016. To achieve this, the industry has invested heavily in putting up world class training modules and facilities for Filipino seafarers to enhance their competitiveness and employability in the international maritime industry.

Baldoz thanked the seafaring industry, saying that the DOLE, through the MITC, is prepared to support the industry's efforts in capturing a larger portion of the international market for seafarers.

Meanwhile, the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), the largest organization of seafarers in the Philippines and the whole world, has joined the DOLE in tripartite efforts for the advancement of the Philippine maritime sector.

Baldoz said the AMOSUP has declared full support to the MITC as means through which stakeholders can address problems in the maritime industry, particularly those affecting Filipino seafarers and port workers.  

Founded 50 years ago by the late Capt. Gregorio Oca, AMOSUP is internationally recognized leader of seafarers' organizations, being the largest union of marine officers and seamen in the world with around 90,000 members.

"The support of AMOSUP to the MITC is an affirmation of tripartism as an effective means of building consensus and collaboration of social partners in mutually beneficial activities that will drive the growth of the maritime industry and promote the welfare, employability, and competitiveness of Filipino seafarers and port workers," Baldoz said.

AMOSUP president Dr. Conrado F. Oca, son of Capt. Oca, who expressed the AMOSUP's appreciation to Baldoz for jumpstarting the establishment of the MITC, also underscored the importance of tripartism in achieving industrial peace, in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of seafarers and port workers, and in pushing for the ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006. The latter provides for comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers.

"The MITC will be venue for the tripartite partners to craft policies and regulations, including a national action plan for the ratification of the MLC 2006," Baldoz said. End/laa

Workers, agencies warned versus job offers in the UK through the Internet

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) warned Filipino workers and Philippine recruitment agencies against recruiters offering jobs in the United Kingdom through email, particularly those requiring applicants to send money as payment for visa and work permit in the light of UK regulations which require personal filing of visa applications at the British Embassy in Manila.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque issued the warning in the wake of the proliferation of fraudulent recruitment through the Internet offering non-existent jobs in the UK.

Roque said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in London has recorded more than 200 emails from job applicants and recruitment agencies in the country requesting for verification of the legality of the job offers they received through the Internet.

He said the applicants received job offers through email with scanned appointment letters, work confirmation, and employment contracts from their supposed UK employers with instruction to the applicants to contact specified travel agencies, immigration firms, and solicitors in the UK who would purportedly assist them in the processing of their work permits and visas.

He said the applicants were subsequently asked to remit a sum of money to a certain account as payment for their work permit, visa processing, and other fees.

He said the job offers were found to be fake, deceptive, and illegal as all visa applications will now be filed at the UK Visa Application Centre of the British Embassy in Manila, adding the application should be done personally by the applicants.

He also said that travel agencies, immigration consultants, recruitment firms, solicitors or barristers, and other agents in the UK are not authorized to act as sponsor of applicants. Neither can they process or apply for working visas in the UK in behalf of the applicants.

Roque likewise noted that even recruitment agencies in the country have been enticed to take recruitment offers in the Internet and to advertise vacancies in their behalf for manpower pooling.

He cited a case involving the Global Logistics & Trading Shipping Co., which posted its job orders and interview schedule at www.workabroad.com.ph under Primeworld Manpower Agency. He said the POLO in London found that Global Logistics is not a licensed UK firm.

London-based Labor Attache Jainal Rasul Jr. also advised Filipino applicants that based on the new UK Points Based System (PBS), only highly skilled professionals would be eligible for work visas in the UK, unless the positions are included in the shortage occupation list.

At present, most of the available semi-skilled, and low-skilled jobs in the UK are no longer open to non-Europeans, particularly in hotels, restaurants, food catering, retail business, construction and manufacturing.

For visa application under the new PBS immigration rule, a work permit is no longer a requirement and has now been replaced by the new sponsorship system. This means that the UK Border Agency (Immigration Office) no longer issues work permits for entry visa purposes.

In place of the work permit, the UK Border Agency issues sponsorship license to UK employers who in turn sends the ‘certificate of sponsorship’ to their qualified candidates or applicants as a requirement for online visa application at the British Embassy in Manila.

DOLE reiterates pay rules on April 6, holy week

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said that April 6, 2009 (Monday) is a regular holiday nationwide in observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan, which honors the valor and heroism of the Filipinos in Bataan and Corregidor.

At the same time, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that as affirmed under Presidential Proclamation No. 1699 dated December 24, 2008, April 9 (Maundy Thursday) and 10 (Good Friday), 2009, are regular holidays throughout the nation.

The Labor and Employment Chief said that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation No. 1699 affirmed Republic Act (RA) 9492, which provides that holidays, except those which are religious in nature, are moved to the nearest Monday unless otherwise modified by law, order, or proclamation. The RA amended Section 26, Chapter 7, Book 1 of Executive Order No. 292, otherwise known as the Administrative Code of 1987, by declaring certain days (specific or movable) as special or regular holidays.

Accordingly, Roque advised the country’s employers on the lawful holiday pay rules to be applied during the nationwide regular holidays of the Araw ng Kagitingan on April 6, Maundy Thursday on April 9, and Good Friday on April 10, 2009, as follows:

A. If the day is the employee’s regular workday:

· If worked, [the employee] is entitled to 200% of his [or her] basic wage for the first eight (8) hours and, for work in excess of the 8 hours, an additional 30% of his or her hourly rate on the said day;
· If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100% of his daily rate, provided he or she was present or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

B. If the day is the employee’s rest day:

· If worked, the employee is entitled, for the first 8 hours, to 200% of his or her daily rate plus 30% and, for work in excess of 8 hours, plus 30% of his or her hourly rate on the said day;
· If unworked, the employee is entitled to 100% of his or her daily rate, provided he or she was present or was on leave with pay on the workday immediately preceding the holiday.

C. Where the day immediately preceding the holiday is a non-work day in the establishment or the scheduled rest day of the employee, he or she shall not be deemed on leave of absence on that day, in which case he or she shall be entitled to the holiday pay.

DOLE, Qatar labor officials meet in Bohol; confirm more than 100,000 jobs for OFWs in Qatar

Labor officials from the Philippines and Qatar convened the 1st RP-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting in Bohol recently to strengthen bilateral labor relations and opportunities for both countries, specifically the availability of more than 100,000 jobs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said officials from the two countries discussed the ratification of the Additional Protocol to the RP-Qatar Agreement Concerning Filipino Manpower Employment in Qatar, which the country entered into with the Qatari government in 1997 to provide for the deployment and welfare protection for OFWs in Qatar.

Roque said the two delegations also discussed the employment prospects for OFWs in Qatar. He said Qatar approved a total of 296,787 work visas for OFWs between October 2008 to March 2009 out of which about 190,000 were already filled up, indicating that over 100,000 work visas are still available for OFWs.

The DOLE Chief said that about 85 % of the available jobs for OFWs in the Qatar requires technical and highly-skilled workers in the construction sector.

The Philippine delegation was composed of DOLE Undersecretary Arturo L. Sodusta, Deputy Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Director Albert Q. Valenciano of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Labor Attaché Vivo V. Vidal.

The Qatar delegation was headed by Deputy Minister Hussain Yousuf Al-Mulla of the Ministry of Labour (MOL) with other MOL officials, namely, Director Khalid Al-Hayder of the Department of International Relations, Mr. Saleh Al-Khaldi of the Legal Department, and Mr. Ibrahim Al-Hail of the Public Relations Department, as members.

The two delegations also agreed to address illegal recruitment and excessive charging of fees by recruitment agencies by actively exchanging needed information involving such cases especially those involving household service workers.

Along this line, Roque said the DOLE proposed that OFWs be required exit clearance prior to their deployment to Qatar as preventive measure against the illegal recruitment of workers to this country.

The DOLE, he added, would also submit its training proposal to the Qatari government for the latter’s cooperation and assistance in training OFWs in line with efforts to ensure adequate supply of skilled workers for manpower requirements of employers in this country.

Meanwhile, the Qatari delegation explained Qatar’s new Sponsorship law. The law provides that in proven cases of abuse of workers such as those involving maltreatment, physical abuse, and non-payment of wages, Qatar’s MOL or its Ministry of Interior or the labor court can allow the workers to transfer to other employers.

If a Filipino worker filed a case in the labor court and the regular court, his/her employer cannot send the worker back the Philippines until the pending claims of the worker are settled.

Displacements bottom out as 14,021 temporary laid off workers, in flexi work return to regular employment

The effects of the global crisis on the employment of Filipino workers have bottomed out as displacements due to the crisis stood still with the return to their regular jobs of some 14,021 temporarily laid off workers and those under flexible work arrangements in 53 firms, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited data from the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) which showed that the biggest number of affected workers who have returned to their regular work are in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) totaling to 7,975 in 29 firms. Region 3 (Central Luzon) followed with 2,418 workers in 11 firms, Region 12 (Davao) with 1,712 workers in seven firms, and CAR with 1,588 workers in two firms.

Roque said that some firms in economic zones affected by the crisis have started to recover as new orders started to come in.

He said these firms are slowly returning to their normal operations and subsequently to normal work hours for their workers in flexible work arrangements, adding that workers who were laid off on a temporary basis due to the crisis were also called back to work.

“The positive development is an indication that more affected workers would be returning to their regular jobs,” the DOLE Chief said noting that even as the crisis reels in many parts of the world, investors are coming to the Philippines to put up business and subsequently generate employment for the workers.

He cited the new investors at the Cavite Economic Zone and projected investments in tourism particularly in the establishment of new hotels and resorts in the country.

The country is also anticipating the operation of seven mining firms this year and the infusion of about US$15 billion investments, which would create new jobs for engineers, mining laborers, and other related workers, Roque said.

Overseas, the Labor and Employment Secretary said the displacement of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also halted as the demand for OFWs continues. He noted that in Taiwan, where the biggest number of displaced OFWs came from, also started to rehire OFWs.
Citing data from the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO), Roque said that a total of 468 OFWs found jobs in Taiwan in March this year. Another 851 displaced OFWs were re-hired by their employers in Taiwan.

The Labor Secretary said companies affected by the global crisis are keeping the OFWs to avoid
losing their quotas and in anticipation of improvement in the economy of Taiwan in the fourth quarter.

MECO data also indicated that displacements of foreign workers in Taiwan have been marginalized. During this same period, no OFW in this country was laid off due to the crisis.
Roque also noted that no additional OFW dislocation was recorded, saying that the number of OFWs displaced by the global crisis remained at 6,000 and not 12,000 as alleged by reports.
He said the situation in many countries with OFWs appear to have stabilized as the demand for Filipino manpower by foreign employers still continues.

The Middle East (ME) countries, he said, remain the top countries of destination for OFWs.
For the first quarter of 2009, Roque said the Philippine Labor Offices in ME have monitored 106,800 new job opportunities for OFWs excluding the job orders registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Labor unions to spearhead Labor Day Jobapalooza ‘09

To hasten assistance to workers affected by the global crisis, the country’s largest labor unions will lead the conduct of the biggest simultaneous job fairs in all regions nationwide on May 1, 2009, Labor Day, in collaboration with the government and the private sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the social partners have recognized the need for collective action and mutual collaboration in mitigating the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy, adding they agreed to lend a hand in helping workers particularly the displaced as well as new graduates find jobs locally and overseas through the conduct of job fairs all over the country.

Roque said the trade unions and labor groups unanimously approved to celebrate Labor Day with the conduct of what would be considered, so far, the biggest job fair dubbed “Labor Day Tayo Na! Trabaho Na! Jobapalooza 09,” which will be held simultaneously in 16 regions on May 1 in collaboration with sponsoring firms, employers, recruitment agencies, local government units, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), and the DOLE and other government agencies.

He said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would launch the main celebration on May 1 at the SMX Convention Hall at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. The DOLE with the social partners in other regions would also spearhead a similar event in their areas of jurisdiction.
The DOLE Chief also said that about 1,000 employers and recruitment agencies nationwide would participate in the Labor Day Jobapalooza to offer hundreds of thousands of local and overseas jobs to workers particularly the displaced and new graduates.

He said that even as the economy continues to exhibit resiliency, efforts are needed to facilitate the employment of workers through job fairs to diminish the crisis’ impact on the people.
Roque hailed the organized sector and the sponsoring firms for cooperating with the DOLE in planning for the conduct of the Labor Day Jobalooza on May 1 as part of the national efforts to promote employment and, thus, mitigate the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy as a whole.

Apart from the job fair, there will also be skills demonstration, livelihood products display and sales, and distribution of training and scholarship certificates. To cap the night, an “Alay sa Manggagawang Pilipino” concert featuring the country’s top bands will pay tribute to the country’s working men and women at the MOA grounds near the SMX.

The participating trade unions are the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Associated Labor Union, Philippine Transport General Workers Organization, All Workers Alliance Trade Union, Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Philippine Organization of Labor Unions, and the National Association of Trade Union.

The sponsoring partners are Globe Telecom, Banco De Oro, SM, Jobstreet,com, STI, Philippine Online Chronicles, and the City Government of Manila.

Job fairs help solicit 1.34 million jobs in 2008 - DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today debunked criticisms that its conduct of job fairs is just a plain show or gimmick, saying that it, in fact, solicited a total of 1.34 million job vacancies from January to November last year.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the conduct of job fair is not a government show stressing the fairs are crucial measures in helping employers find appropriate skills they need, at the same time, facilitating the placement of workers in need of jobs.

Roque said job fairs are useful as indicated by employers who participate in the fairs to post their vacancies and interview jobseekers every year.

He said a total of 1,032 job fairs were conducted nationwide between January and November last year with the participation of hundreds of employers who posted more than a million vacancies in these fairs.

The Labor and Employment Secretary said, however, not all vacancies gathered in job fairs are filled up immediately on the spot as participating employers usually take time in selecting the most qualified applicants.

“Selection may start with an initial interview of applicants as the fair is going on,” he said, adding that the recruitment of selected applicants who troop job fairs usually takes place at the company level where management makes the final choice out of initial interviews and resumes of jobseekers it had gathered during a job fair.

Job fairs serve as venue where employers can find appropriate skills that’s why many of them participate in such fairs on a regular basis, Roque said adding job fair also forms part of its strategies in combating the impact of the global economic crisis on the workers.

Roque also noted the perennial problem on skills mismatch saying that many jobseekers who had gone to job fairs do not possess the skills and qualifications required by the participating employers.

In view of this, he said job fairs conducted are normally complemented with livelihood and skills training assistance services to provide workers with alternatives to employment.

Aside from employers and recruitment agencies offering job vacancies, the job fair also offers services whereby workers are given opportunities to embark on livelihood projects or to undergo skills training and upgrading to enable them meet the skills requirements of industry, Roque said.

Global OFW deployment, dollar remittances grow despite global crisis

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today confirmed that both the global deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dollar remittances to the country’s economy have continued to increase notwithstanding the global financial crisis (GFC).

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited the latest report of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that despite the global financial slowdown, OFW remittances from more than 190 host countries worldwide reached more than US$1.265 billion in January 2009, representing a positive 0.1 percent growth from the same period in 2008.

Roque had cited the earlier confirmation made by the DOLE’s Philippine Overseas Employment Administration that the total global deployment of documented OFWs reached a robust growth to 165,737 in January this year, up worldwide by 25.3 percent, from 132,285 in the same period last year.

“This resoundingly affirms the sustained global preference for our skilled and semi-skilled overseas Filipino workers, and their productive role in staving off the adverse effects of the global slowdown in the greater portion of the world’s economies.”

The Labor and Employment Chief said that in 2008, a record 1.376 million documented OFWs have been deployed in more than 190 host nations globally, while they remitted some US$16.4 billion to the country, the highest in history so far.

Roque said that while there have been concerns about the effects of the recession in some economies on the continued deployment of OFWs, the data provided by the POEA covering January 2009 affirm a double digit growth up by more than a quarter (25.3%) of the previously record remittance figure registered in January 2008.

He pointed to the strength of the country’s bilateral relations and agreements for assuring sustained employment opportunities for OFWs, particularly those entered into by the RP government with major host destinations such as Canada, Australia, Japan – alongside the vibrant outlook of Middle Eastern economies such as Qatar in industries which prefer our skilled and semi-skilled OFWs like health care, education, real estate, and power and energy.

In addition, Roque had dispatched, in a swift response to stave off the adverse effects of the GFC, teams of labor and employment experts to GFC-affected host destinations like South Korea, Taiwan and Dubai to profile and assist displaced OFWs avail of the pertinent assistance including finding alternative employment, and retooling opportunities.

The Labor and Employment Chief, based on the BSP report, cited the United States, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the top sources of the almost US$1.3 billion the OFWs remitted to the nation’s economy in the first month of 2009.

RP, Japan agree to train Filipino seafarers while global economy is down

The Philippines has entered into an agreement with the transport ministry of Japan to provide for the skills training and upgrading of Filipino seafarers employed in international vessels which have been idled or laid-up due to the global economic downturn, the Department of Labor and Employment said.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that during his recent trip to Japan, he signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Development of Asian Seafarers with Minister Kazuyoshi Kaneko of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to seal the agreement providing for the training of Filipino seafarers under the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers.

Roque was in Tokyo last week for the signing and also to represent the country, along with tripartite partners from the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine-Japan Consultative Council, at the Philippine-Japan Seafarer Policy Forum to seek for the preservation of the jobs of over 40,000 Filipino seafarers employed in Japanese vessels.

He implored on the Japanese ship owners to keep the Filipino seafarers on-board even as their ships could be laid-up due to lack or absence of demand for cargo. He said that cargo ships forced to dock at ports for longer periods due to the economic crisis still need manpower for ship maintenance.

At the same time, DOLE Chief called on the Japan Seaman’s Union (JSU) to lend a hand in the provision of social safety nets to other Filipino seafarers who may not be able to remain on board Japanese vessels due to the crisis. Members of the union, he said, include about 35,000 to 45,000 Filipino seamen.

He thanked the JSU for its willingness to study the possibility of giving livelihood assistance for Filipino seafarers who may be forced to go on vacation while cargo demand is nil.
Roque also cited the Japan transport ministry for the training project it would implement in collaboration with DOLE, saying the project would help address the global shortage of skilled seafarers and qualified officers by training and upgrading the skills of Filipino seafarers especially those who may have to go home for vacation while their vessels are laid up.

He said the training would be an opportunity for Filipino seafarers affected by the crisis to train and upgrade their skills while waiting for their return on board.

“This will enable us to develop our seafarers particularly as vessel officers who are in short supply and badly needed by the international seafaring industry,” Roque said, adding “once the global cargo trading resumes its robustness, our seafarers would be in a better footing to land in better paying positions and pay on board.”

Under the agreement, the DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism would jointly implement the training project with the latter providing for technical, funding, and human resources. The former, on the other hand, will seek the support of manning agencies and maritime training schools for the implementation of the project.

Job fairs help solicit 1.34 million jobs in 2008 - DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) debunked criticisms that its conduct of job fairs is just a plain show or gimmick, saying that it, in fact, solicited a total of 1.34 million job vacancies from January to November last year.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the conduct of job fair is not a government show stressing the fairs are crucial measures in helping employers find appropriate skills they need, at the same time, facilitating the placement of workers in need of jobs. Roque said job fairs are useful as indicated by employers who participate in the fairs to post their vacancies and interview jobseekers every year.

He said a total of 1,032 job fairs were conducted nationwide between January and November last year with the participation of hundreds of employers who posted more than a million vacancies in these fairs.

The Labor and Employment Secretary said, however, not all vacancies gathered in job fairs are filled up immediately on the spot as participating employers usually take time in selecting the most qualified applicants.

“Selection may start with an initial interview of applicants as the fair is going on,” he said, adding that the recruitment of selected applicants who troop job fairs usually takes place at the company level where management makes the final choice out of initial interviews and resumes of jobseekers it had gathered during a job fair.

Job fairs serve as venue where employers can find appropriate skills that’s why many of them participate in such fairs on a regular basis, Roque said adding job fair also forms part of its strategies in combating the impact of the global economic crisis on the workers.
Roque also noted the perennial problem on skills mismatch saying that many jobseekers who had gone to job fairs do not possess the skills and qualifications required by the participating employers.

In view of this, he said job fairs conducted are normally complemented with livelihood and skills training assistance services to provide workers with alternatives to employment.
Aside from employers and recruitment agencies offering job vacancies, the job fair also offers services whereby workers are given opportunities to embark on livelihood projects or to undergo skills training and upgrading to enable them meet the skills requirements of industry, Roque said.

RP to join preparatory meeting in Washington, DC toward second annual Transatlantic Forum on Migration

The Philippines, a leader in the global arena on welfare-oriented and productive migration, will boost the crucial preparatory proceedings to the second annual Transatlantic Forum on Migration and Integration meeting which will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 13 to 15 under the aegis of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS) in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Stiftung Foundation, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque has assured that key labor and employment expertise would facilitate the Philippines’ inputs during the event, which will chart the agenda of the forthcoming 2nd annual Transatlantic Forum on Migration and Integration in Austin and San Antonio, Texas, the United States from July 15 to 19, 2009.

Roque cited the importance of the Transatlantic forum, at which the allied economies and host nations of the United States and Europe play a major role, in understanding and leading the development of responses to the issues and trends affecting global productive migration today.
“Inevitably, such an effort will hold the promise and potential, whether directly or indirectly, of complementing the current efforts among the economies to address the global financial crisis (GFC) and its effects on vulnerable migrant workers.”

Amidst the development, the Labor and Employment Chief stated that notwithstanding the GFC, RP remains a leader in the field of productive migration following the global deployment of some 1.376 million documented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who also remitted back to the Philippine economy some US$ 16.4 billion from more than 190 host destinations in 2008. Roque further reported that, undaunted by the GFC, global OFW deployment showed an uptrend reaching some 165,737 in January 2009 alone, for a total worldwide growth of 25.3 percent, from 132,285 in the same period in 2008.

Roque, thus, in connection with RP’s participation in the agenda-setting meeting on March 13-15, and the second annual Transatlantic Forum on Migration and Integration in the GMFUS headquarters in Washington, D.C. on July 15 to 19, 2009, designated DOLE official Merliza M. Makinano, who is the vice head of the DOLE Task Force on the Global Forum on Migration and Development, to attend the proceedings.

Makinano, who represents RP in the international forum, is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the DOLE’s “think-tank,” the Institute for Labor Studies, after previously heading the Department’s International Labor Affairs Service (ILAS).

She had earlier represented the Philippines in the pioneering, first annual Transtlantic Forum on Migration and Integration held at the Castle Pommensfelden near Nuremberg, Germany on July 9 to 13 last year.

The sponsors of the successful first forum --- GMFUS which is a grantmaking and public policy institute dedicated to strengthening cooperation, as well as the Robert Bosch Stiftung, a major German foundation devoted to international relations, health, and education --- ensured the participation of some 55 emerging leaders from migrant sending and receiving nations including the Philippines, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Gambia, Senegal, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Organization for Undocumented Migrant Workers (OUMW).

First local gov’t based ‘One SWAC’ moves to assist GFC-affected workers in CALABARZON area

On the heels of an assistance facility made operational at the Cavite ecozone, the first local government unit (LGU-based) one-stop assistance center has also been swiftly established in the investments significant CALABARZON area in response to workers affected by the global financial crisis.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque emphasized that the establishment of the Calamba City One SWAC (acronym for One Stop Worker Assistance Center) is pursuant to the commitments in the joint Communique on Joining Hands against the Global Crisis approved bv President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after being forged in unity by the country’s Three Plus (3+) Social Partners (labor, management, government and other sectors) in Malacañang recently.

Roque, in particular cited the City Government of Calamba, headed by City Mayor Joaquin M. Chipeco, for joining hands with the DOLE’s Region IV-A Office headed by Regional Director Ricardo S. Martinez, Sr. and other crucial government agencies in the area, to put up and operationalize the “One SWAC” at the J.P. Rizal School in the historic city.

At the same time, the Labor Chief acknowledged the role of government agencies, including the DOLE’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, even as he earlier stated that the DOLE will set up more synergized assistance centers in response to the GFC in Bataan, Baguio in the north, and Mactan, Cebu in southern Philippines.

DOLE Region IV-A (CALABARZON) Office Regional Director Martinez emphasized that the chief objective of the Calamba City One SWAC, which will be cooperatively manned by the personnel of the above LGU/agencies and volunteers, is to ensure fast and efficient access of GFC-affected workers to all government services/assistance.

Martinez added that the assistance to be jointly ensured by the participating LGU and government agencies under the agreed responsibilities, cover profiling of displaced workers and dependents, issuance of certificate of eligibility for all assistance packages, information on all assistance packages for displaced workers, information on job vacancies, job-matching and placement, livelihood assistance, training and scholarship vouchers, and issuance of pre-employment documents.

In behalf of Secretary Roque, Martinez and Calamba City Mayor Chipeco forged the accord, witnessed by Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz and Assistant Secretary Rebbeca J. Calzado DOLE and City Administrator Atty. Manuel P. Ladrido, successfully establishing the Calamba City One SWAC together with TESDA Deputy Director General for Regional Operations Roger C. Peyuan; Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dennis B. Araullo; Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria of DENR; and Regional Directors Julia F. Fabian of OWWA; Marilou Q. Toledo of DTI; Honorita B. Bayudan of DSWD; Bonifacio O. Seguit of DPWH; and Rosa F. Macas of BFAR, on March 6, 2009.

Gov’t encourages new graduates to avail of local, global opportunities in nationwide job fair

Gov’t encourages new graduates to avail of local, global opportunities in nationwide job fair
As thousands of youths join the country’s labor force following their graduation from school this year, the government, in cooperation with colleges and universities nationwide, is offering a job fair series to bring to them available local or global jobs matching opportunities, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has organized the job fair in the country’s regions to assist new labor force entrants, who are primarily the new graduates of colleges and universities, find productive job opportunities and surmount the global financial crisis.

The Labor and Employment Chief said that importantly, the nationwide job fair dubbed as, “Handog sa mga Kabataan sa Kanilang Pagtatapos,” is complemented by career and employment counseling, as well as other necessary pre-employment services, in time for this year’s graduation season to assist the new entrants to the country’s labor force.

“The nationwide job fair for the benefit of new graduates form part of the DOLE’s employment service strategy to assist new entrants in the face of the current global financial crisis,” he said, adding that the thrust proactively responds to the influx of new graduates to the labor market during graduation season.

Roque cited a report of the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) that job fairs have continued to play an important role in ensuring opportunities and in pushing back the effects of the global crisis. In a preliminary report, the BLE said that the fairs facilitated the appropriate job search and job-and-skills matching assistance to some 540,337 job seekers who registered in some 1,032 job fairs conducted by DOLE-supervised network of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) across all regions in

Meanwhile, Labor Undersecretary Luzviminda G. Padilla, who is in charge of the DOLE’s Employment and Manpower Development Cluster, directed the DOLE’s Regional Offices (ROs) nationwide to include in their respective action plans for 2009 the conduct of job fairs to assist the new graduates.

Director Maria Criselda R. Sy of the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), on the other hand, confirmed additional tentative job fair schedules for new graduates hosted by various colleges and universities in the following regions:

National Capital Region (NCR): March 12-13 -- local jobs fair at San Beda College, Manila; March 25 - local jobs fair at J.P. Hall of Freedom, Lyceum of the Philippines, Intramuros, Manila; Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): March 16-17 – Jobs fair/career forum/PhilJobnet at Commission on Higher Education (CHED); Region 2 (Cagayan Valley): March 14 – local/overseas jobs fair at St. Mary’s University, Nueva Vizcaya; Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula): March 11-13 – local/overseas fair at Universidad de Zamboanga Summit Center in Zamboanga City, along with other, year-round stakeholders forum/job fair for agencies with similar skills requirements, and pre-employment counseling sessions in cooperation with schools/universities in the region; and CARAGA Region: 2nd week of March – job fair/career guidance/pre-employment counseling/job search assistance at Fr. Urios University; March to April – job fair/career guidance at AMA Computer Learning Center at the JC Aquino Drive; and job fair/career guidance/pre-employment counseling/job search assistance at Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, all in Butuan City.

Job fairs had already been conducted in February 2009 at various convenient venues by Feati University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mapua Institute of Technology, and San Beda College in Metro Manila; the University of the Cordilleras; Medical Colleges of Northern Philippines, Cagayan Colleges, St. Paul University, Cagayan State University and St. Mary’s University in Region 2; Andrew Bonifacio College in Region 9; among others.

Director Sy added that more job fair schedules will be disseminated in all the regions year-round.

Ople Center cites taxi driver’s role in closure of bogus recruitment agency; calls on victims to do an “Orayan”

Former labor undersecretary Susan Ople called for citizens’ action versus illegal recruitment and human trafficking as she cited the help of Rogelio Orayan, a taxi driver that came forward with information that led to the closure of an illegal recruitment firm.

Two weeks ago, a female passenger suggested that the cab driver apply for an overseas job at an Ermita-based agency. On his day-off, the driver went to the agency and applied for a job. He was told to undergo a medical test. A few days after, the agency informed Orayan that he has been accepted but would need to pay a downpayment amounting to P20,000 out of a P65,000 placement fee. He was promised a job as a janitor aboard a Dubai-based ship. The agency had offices in three different buildings and was charging processing fees for non-existent jobs. It turned out that the POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.

After hearing about the Ople Center’s campaign against illegal recruitment on a radio program, the taxi driver inquired from the Center whether the agency was legitimate. The Ople Center told the taxi driver not to part ways with his hard-earned money and referred him to the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment under the Office of the Vice-President. In a matter of days, the Task Force and Orayon planned and executed a successful entrapment operation that led to the bogus agency’s closure.

It turned out that agency was no longer licensed to operate and accept payments from job applicants. The POEA license of the agency has long been cancelled.

“We are calling on those who have doubts about their recruiters to do an ‘Orayan’,” Ople said, during a media forum held yesterday morning at the Danarra Hotel. Orayan’s help and cooperation, the Center stressed, saved a lot of applicants from the elaborate schemes of the bogus agency.

According to Orayan, the office of the illegal recruiter was housed in a condo and had a long list of waiting clients, some of who admitted to forking over P160,000 in borrowed funds just to ensure that they are first to be deployed overseas.

The daughter of the late Foreign Affairs and Labor Secretary Blas F. Ople, acknowledged as the father of overseas employment, described illegal recruiters as “leeches” who attach themselves to the growing number of Filipinos now in desperate need of work.

“With more than 40,000 displaced workers and millions of unemployed Filipinos to choose from, these illegal recruiters and human traffickers are raking profits from the desperation of their countrymen.”

The Ople Center has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the POEA for a joint advocacy campaign against illegal recruitment. It has also reached an understanding with 1-UTAK, an organization of different transport groups, for a sticker campaign that would bear the hotlines of the POEA, NBI, BI, and Ople Center. The hotline of the Ople Center is 833-5337 while the POEA hotlines are 722-1144 & 722-1155. The Bureau of Immigration has its own hotline: 524-3769 while the NBI’s hotline is 523-8231.

“Our appeal is if you have any doubts at all about your recruiter or whoever is offering you an overseas job, call up the POEA, NBI or Ople Center hotlines. Before you leave the country, make sure that both your recruitment agency and foreign employer are accredited and considered in good standing by the POEA,” the Center stressed.

Gov’t Sets Up First Ecozone One-Stop Assistance Center In Cavite

The government has stepped up efforts in bringing assistance and services to workers affected by the global economic crisis with the setting up of the first ecozone-based one-stop workers’ assistance center at the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ) in Rosario, Cavite, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said.

Roque said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in collaboration with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) established the Cavite assistance facility dubbed the PEZA one-stop workers’ assistance center (POSWAC).

He said the facility in Cavite is the first of similar facilities that would also be set up in other public economic zones in Bataan, Baguio, and Mactan.

To be manned by personnel from the three agencies, the POSWAC would provide immediate assistance to displaced ecozone workers onsite, Roque said adding the operation of the facility complements the Help Desks in all regional offices of DOLE and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) which have been set up earlier to assist local and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs due to the global economic crisis.

Like the DOLE and OWWA Help Desks, the POSWAC will also provide employment, livelihood, and training assistance to displaced workers in ecozones, Roque said.

Initially, POSWAC will conduct profiling of displaced ecozone workers to determine the latter’s skills and assistance they want to avail. Assistance to be rendered them includes job matching and placement, livelihood loans, competency assessment and certification, skills training, and issuance of scholarship vouchers and pre-employment documents.

The DOLE Chief said the establishment of POSWAC is one of the government’s commitments at the multi-sectoral Job Summit, “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis,” which identified measures that need to be pursued to help workers and industry cope with the economic slowdown brought about by the crisis.

In line with the Job Summit commitments, the DOLE has also started the groundwork on the establishment of one-stop workers’ assistance centers in private ecozones and industrial parks in collaboration with PEZA and TESDA, Roque said as he urged the stakeholders in 38 private industrial areas in the country to host such facility in order to immediately assist ecozones workers who may lose their jobs due to the crisis.

“Immediate assistance to displaced workers particularly in helping them find another employment or livelihood would mitigate in large measure the effects of the crisis on the economy,” he said.

DOLE expands online employment services; partners with largest online jobseeker database

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has established partnership with an affiliate of one of Asia's leading online recruitment companies to expand its efforts in helping industry and workers, especially the new entrants to the labor force and workers displaced by the global crisis, find skills and jobs via the Internet and other schemes.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the DOLE entered into an agreement with a private executive search and staffing firm, the JobStreet Select Inc., establishing the two parties’ collaboration in the provision of online employment services to jobseekers seeking employment as well as to employers seeking skills that meet industry requirements.

Roque said JobStreet, Select Inc., is the staffing partner of JobStreet.com, which is one of Asia's leading online recruitment companies operating in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. JobStreet.com also has the largest online jobseeker database with over one million registered jobseekers across the Philippines.
The DOLE Chief hailed the staffing firm for extending its cooperation in providing the workers and employers easy online access to information relevant to their search for jobs and needed skills.

He said the partnership with JobStreet Select would boost the DOLE’s efforts to facilitate the recruitment and placement of Filipino workers in view of the fact the JobStreet.com serves the hiring requirements of over 10,000 employers and processes over 15,000 jobs posted daily on its website.

He asked other firms to also join hands with the DOLE in similar undertakings as this would facilitate the employment of workers and expansion of business, thereby, helping the country cope and survive the current global crisis.

The DOLE-JobStreet Select agreement was signed by DOLE Undersecretary Luzviminda G. Padilla and Grace R. Colet, general manager of JobStreet Select.

Under the agreement, the DOLE’s Phil-Jobnet homepage will be linked to all the available jobs in the JobsStreet.com website. Phil-Jobnet is the DOLE’s computerized skills and jobs matching system showing vacancy announcements of employers and resumes of registered jobseekers.

Phil-Jobnet will also provide links to the other JobStreet.com contents such as career services, articles, events, guides, etc. JobStreet.com will also participate in DOLE job fairs and other events.

Meanwhile, JobStreet Select will provide a facility within the JobStreet.com website so that Phil-Jobnet registered jobseekers may be able to view existing vacancies posted in JobStreet.com website without requiring the jobseekers to register with the latter.

Roque said the DOLE-JobStreet Select collaboration takes effect within one year upon signing of the agreement.

DOLE team to help OFWs in Korea find alternative job, other productive undertakings

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has sent a three-man team to Korea to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in this country find alternative employment and other productive undertakings before the global crisis could hit their current employment.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the team has been directed to prepare the OFWs before they actually lose their jobs with alternative opportunities which they may undertake to ease the impact of the global crisis on them and their families.

The team consists of personnel from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).

Roque said that under DOLE Administrative Order No. 42, series of 2009, the team would coordinate with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Seoul in identifying firms in Korea with OFWs workers who could lose their jobs due to the global crisis.

He said the team would immediately meet with vulnerable OFWs in the identified firms to profile their skills for appropriate job matching and referral to other companies, whether onsite or in local firms in the Philippines, where their skills are needed.

OFWs who are in need of skills upgrading and retooling, on the other hand, would be issued onsite with scholarship training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The DOLE Chief said the TESDA vouchers would enable the OFW-beneficiaries to train immediately upon their return to the Philippines in skills that are needed by industry, thereby, enhancing their employability locally and overseas.

At the same time, the three-man DOLE team would provide livelihood orientation to OFWs who may no longer want to work in Korea and instead opt to set up their own business enterprises in the Philippines.

Roque said the team would assist said OFWs in organizing themselves for livelihood projects and also in preparing their business proposals.

The Labor and Employment Secretary also said that another DOLE team will be sent to Korea to negotiate for the renewal of the country’s participation in the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS) in line with national efforts in jobs preservation and generation for Filipino workers.

The last MOU on the EPS forged in 2006 between the DOLE and the Korean Labor Ministry expired last year.

Roque said the team would meet and discuss with their South Korean Ministry of Labor specifically the conclusion of a new EPS memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and South Korea that would provide for the recruitment and deployment of OFWs to this country in the next two years.

He said that despite the raging global crisis that had displaced 74 OFWs in Korea, the Philippines is keen on renewing its participation in the Korean EPS in view of this country’s continuing preference for OFWs.

He cited the initiative of the South Korean government to prioritize OFWs displaced by the global crisis for available new job openings under the EPS. POEA data also showed that in January this year, about 30 OFWs have been offered to work in Korea under the EPS.

At the same time, the DOLE team would confer and explore with the Korean Ministry of Education the prospect of deploying Filipino English teachers to Korea and also with appropriate authorities the prospect of sending OFWs to the Incheon Free Export Zone in Incheon which is a major Korean seaport near Seoul. The export zone is envisioned to become the center of international business, IT, biotechnology, logistics and tourism in Northeast Asia.

Gov’t holds forum with land-based, sea-based recruitment agencies

The government will hold an overseas employment forum in Malacanang on Monday (March 2) with the participation of over 150 land-based and sea-based recruitment agencies to fast track efforts in helping Filipino workers find jobs overseas especially those who lost their employment due to the global economic crisis, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque today said.

Roque said the forum on overseas employment is part of national efforts in job generation and job preservation, which are being pursued intensively to cushion the impact of the economic downturn on the people.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initiated the forum to hasten the placement and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including the displaced and unemployed who are seeking jobs abroad.

The Labor and Employment Secretary said the overseas employment forum complements an earlier presidential initiative, the Job Summit Joining Hands Against The Global Crisis," which drew together labor and management and other stakeholders in Malacanang last Feb. 9 to tackle measures aimed at cushioning the impact of the global crisis on the workers.

Two previous multi-sectoral consultations which were conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) including the conference with stakeholders in the agri-based industry also identified similar measures to help workers cope with the economic crunch.

“The DOLE is at the frontline in these initiatives as it strengthens its readiness to deliver services to the workers which include helping them find jobs whether locally or overseas,” Roque said.

He said that for the overseas employment forum, the DOLE mobilized and gained the support of the recruitment industry in the efforts to place the workers in productive jobs abroad.

He said the participants consisting of industry leaders and representatives of land-based and sea-based recruitment agencies helped the DOLE in identifying concerns and problems in the placement of OFWs for overseas employment during an earlier meeting held at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The DOLE Chief said the industry in particular identified measures and solutions on how to facilitate the deployment of OFWs, citing in particular the need to fill up overseas job orders for skilled workers and professionals that have so far accumulated with the POEA.

He said that at this early part of the year, POEA already has over 400,000 job orders that are waiting to be filled up by OFWs with appropriate skills.

Roque said the measures would be incorporated in a Communique expressing the industry’s commitment of support to job generation and preservation and the promotion of the welfare of OFWs, adding that the Communique would be presented to President Arroyo at the forum.

The measures include the industry’s commitment to help enhance the protective mechanisms for OFWs and collectively form a consortium in the setting up of more training centers to meet the need of training workers in skills highly in demand abroad.

The industry shall also collaborate with POEA in the conduct of marketing missions to intensify the search for overseas jobs in emerging markets and regions that are not affected by the crisis.
At the same time, POEA and DOLE shall review and streamline recruitment policies and procedures, facilitate the conduct of onsite recruitment of displaced OFWs including those with finished contracts, and improve the private sector’s access to the online registry of skills to facilitate skills and jobs matching.

Gov’t holds forum with land-based, sea-based recruitment agencies

The government will hold an overseas employment forum in Malacanang on Monday (March 2) with the participation of over 150 land-based and sea-based recruitment agencies to fast track efforts in helping Filipino workers find jobs overseas especially those who lost their employment due to the global economic crisis, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque today said.

Roque said the forum on overseas employment is part of national efforts in job generation and job preservation, which are being pursued intensively to cushion the impact of the economic downturn on the people.

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initiated the forum to hasten the placement and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including the displaced and unemployed who are seeking jobs abroad.

The Labor and Employment Secretary said the overseas employment forum complements an earlier presidential initiative, the Job Summit Joining Hands Against The Global Crisis," which drew together labor and management and other stakeholders in Malacanang last Feb. 9 to tackle measures aimed at cushioning the impact of the global crisis on the workers.

Two previous multi-sectoral consultations which were conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) including the conference with stakeholders in the agri-based industry also identified similar measures to help workers cope with the economic crunch.

“The DOLE is at the frontline in these initiatives as it strengthens its readiness to deliver services to the workers which include helping them find jobs whether locally or overseas,” Roque said.

He said that for the overseas employment forum, the DOLE mobilized and gained the support of the recruitment industry in the efforts to place the workers in productive jobs abroad.

He said the participants consisting of industry leaders and representatives of land-based and sea-based recruitment agencies helped the DOLE in identifying concerns and problems in the placement of OFWs for overseas employment during an earlier meeting held at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

The DOLE Chief said the industry in particular identified measures and solutions on how to facilitate the deployment of OFWs, citing in particular the need to fill up overseas job orders for skilled workers and professionals that have so far accumulated with the POEA.

He said that at this early part of the year, POEA already has over 400,000 job orders that are waiting to be filled up by OFWs with appropriate skills.

Roque said the measures would be incorporated in a Communique expressing the industry’s commitment of support to job generation and preservation and the promotion of the welfare of OFWs, adding that the Communique would be presented to President Arroyo at the forum.

The measures include the industry’s commitment to help enhance the protective mechanisms for OFWs and collectively form a consortium in the setting up of more training centers to meet the need of training workers in skills highly in demand abroad.

The industry shall also collaborate with POEA in the conduct of marketing missions to intensify the search for overseas jobs in emerging markets and regions that are not affected by the crisis.
At the same time, POEA and DOLE shall review and streamline recruitment policies and procedures, facilitate the conduct of onsite recruitment of displaced OFWs including those with finished contracts, and improve the private sector’s access to the online registry of skills to facilitate skills and jobs matching.

Recruitment industry joins forces with gov’t to revitalize employment opportunities, OFWs protection

To shore up the overseas employment program in the midst of the global economic crisis, the recruitment industry agreed to jointly pursue with government measures aimed at invigorating the employment chances and capabilities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to face the challenges brought about by the global crisis, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said.

Roque said representatives of more than 150 land-based and sea-based recruitment industry stamped their commitment to support job generation and preservation in a “communiqué” personally presented to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanang, Monday with the full backing of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The Labor and Employment Secretary said the communiqué contains the list of measures that the recruitment industry and concerned government agencies would jointly pursue to preserve the employment of OFWs and at the same time generate jobs for other Filipinos wanting to work abroad.

The measures, he said, include 1) aggressive investments in skills training and skills enhancements, 2) streamlining of recruitment processes and policies, 3) sharing of government and private sector registry of workers, 4) strengthening welfare and protection mechanisms of workers, 5) review of prevailing salary standards, and 5) conduct of bilateral missions for the protection of OFWs onsite.

Roque also said that the industry partners, in a series of recent consultations, assisted government in identifying the myriad of concerns and suggested solutions to promote job preservation and job generation in the land-based and sea-based areas overseas to be jointly conducted by the two sectors.

He said the two sectors agreed to vigorously build on programs geared on skills enhancement through the continuous training of skilled workers, accreditation of more trade centers particularly in the regions, strengthening of the on-the-job-training program, and promotion of public awareness on the need for skills training through information dissemination and education at the grassroots level.

Industry associations also agreed to collectively invest resources in the establishment of training centers with the full support of TESDA.

To facilitate hiring and placement of workers, Roque said the DOLE and POEA shall develop mechanisms aimed at streamlining existing recruitment policies and procedures.
Other measures to be pursued, he added, also include human resource development initiatives such as mutual recognition of skills, return-of-skills program to reverse brain drain, and review of existing salary levels for skilled workers and professionals, onsite recruitment of displaced workers and those who have finished contracts, make the DOLE registry of workers accessible online to the private sector, installation of online interview facilities for foreign employers, provision of mobile passport services during job fairs.

Industry and government shall also jointly conduct labor market development missions. Labor market development for both inbound and outbound are also planned to preserve and generate employment opportunities for seafarers. Market intelligence gathering and research shall also be heightened as partners and shipowners engage in “handholding” efforts and provide assurances about the quality of Filipino seafarers.

Also a continuing priority program identified by the industry with government is strengthening the welfare and protection of expatriate Filipino workers through the pursuit of ethical recruitment practices and aggressive negotiations for more bilateral/multilateral labor and social security agreements.

Other important measures focused on the review of the standard/model employment contracts of expatriate Filipino workers to enhance their working conditions, the need to address shortage of officers in seafaring business, facilitate registration of officers through walk-in examinations, and fast track the implementation of rules on the conduct of management level course (MLC) and single examination procedure.

Recent consultations attended by Philippine labor attachés from the Middle East, Europe and Asia also called on strengthened efforts against illegal recruitment and human trafficking of expatriate Filipino workers, and improvement of the competitiveness of Philippine vessels/ships lay-up areas by opening more lay-up ports.