In 2013, DOLE`s 1,319 job fairs hired-on-the-spot over 100

Happy
Holidays!
In 2013, DOLE’s 1,319 job fairs
hired-on-the-spot over 100-K applicants
F
ulfilling its commitment to place decent and
productive jobs within the reach of all jobseekers
through job fairs, the DOLE recorded a total of
100,328 jobseekers hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) in 1,319
job fairsheld from January to November 2013 in all the 16
regions of the country.
Based on the DOLE’s Statistical Performance Reporting
System (SPRS), there were 2,928,794 job vacancies
solicited from 21,399 employers and establishments that
participated in the job fairs.
On the other hand, the SPRS recorded a total of 599,474
job applicants who registered for the job fair.
“Evidently, there are plenty of job vacancies in the
country that needed to be filled up and at the same time,
there is a huge number of jobseekers who need to be
placed in jobs that will match their skills and competencies.
Slowly but surely, we are confident that through several
programs and mechanisms, we will be able to address the
problem of jobs-skills mismatch. These job fairs were one
of those programs which were instrumental in fulfilling
our commitment,” Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz explained.
She said the figures represented only those who were
able to get the job they applied for right away and did not
include those who were scheduled for further examination,
interview, or evaluation. “In majority of DOLE’s job fairs,
there were more job vacancies than job applicants,” Baldoz
noted.
In 2013, the DOLE regions and the number of job fairs
they conducted were as follows: National Capital Region
(NCR), 388; Region IV-A, 181; Region III, 131; Region
VII,107; Region I, 92; Region X, 75; Region V, 60; Region
VI, 52; Region XII, 51; Region II, 48; Caraga, 31; Region
XI, 28; Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), 23; Region
IV-B and VIII, 19 each; and IX, 14.
Among the regions, the NCR recorded the most number
of H.O.T.S in the job fairs with 31,283. It is followed by
Region IV-A, with 21,633; Region XII, 10,835; Region III,
10,121; Region VIII, 5,445; CAR, 3,6745; Region I, 3,620;
Region X, 3,360; Region XI, 2,576; Region VII, 2,208;
Region VI, 2,081; Caraga, 1,354; Region II, 663; Region V,
601; Region IX, 497; and Region IV-B, 377.
In this year’s Labor Day job fair, for example, the
DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment reported a total
of 20,934 jobseekers who were hired on the spot, with
85,811 assessed for further interview, and 6,429 ‘near
hires’ referred to the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) to avail of the free
skills training and upgrading needed to qualify for the
job.
“Job fairs are more viable and economical venues to
search for workers and to search for jobs,” Secretary
Baldoz said, adding:
“Besides saving time, effort, and resources, jobseekers
can also have the opportunity to apply to as many
employers in one venue, while participating employers
will be able to pre-qualify and screen as many applicants
in real time for the job opportunities they offer.”
DOLE’s job fairs in 2013 included one-stop-shops to
address job applicants’ pre-employment needs. These onestop-shops were manned by personnel and representatives
from DOLE partner-agencies, such as the Bureau of
Internal Revenue (BI R), National Bureau of Investigation
(NBI), National Statistics Office (NSO), Pagibig Fund,
PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS), who offered and
provided their programs and services on-site.
“The success of our job fairs in 2013 could not be
credited solely to the DOLE. A huge part of this success
came from the tireless participation of all employers and
establishments who extended their efforts in bringing job
vacancies to the jobseekers. We also owe it to our social
partners who constantly supported us and who took part
in our goal of bringing decent and productive jobs to the
Filipinos,” Baldoz said finally.
DOLE Good News
DOLE Good News
With 1.092 million job seekers placed
F
2013 is record-breaking year for PESOs
or Philippine Employment Service
Offices, popularly known as the
PESOs, 2013 is a record-breaking
year.
“The PESOs in 2013 broke the record
for jobseekers placed. As of 31 October,
they have already placed 1,092,222
jobseekers to various jobs in the 3,199,656
job vacancies posted/solicited. This
already surpasses the PESOs’ placement
target of 1,025,574 by 6 percent, and the
target for job vacancies posted/solicited
of 2,764,233 by 15.75 percent for the
entire 2013,” said Labor and Employment
Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.
According to the labor and employment
chief, the 1,092,222 jobseekers placed for
the January-October 2013 period is well
comparable to the 1,152.228 jobseekers
placed by the PESOs in the whole year of
2012.
The 2012 number of job vacancies
posted/solicited by the PESOs was
3,194,009, lower by only 5,647 job
vacancies than the 2013 PESOs
accomplishment as of 31 October 2013.
Secretary Baldoz said she expects the
number of jobseekers placed and the
vacancies posted/solicited by the PESOs
to still increase.
She explained that the PESOs were able
to achieve the feat due to the concerted
efforts of all DOLE regional offices,
local government units, and the PESOs
themselves and their partners.
Another highlight of the PESOs’2013
accomplishment is the total number
of jobseekers the PESOs referred for
placement. As of 31 October, the number
has reached 1,292,071 jobseekers, or
94.75 percent of the whole year target of
1,354,883 jobseekers referred.
“The number of jobseekers the PESOs
refer for placement and the total number
of jobseekers they actually place are major
indicators of the PESOs’ performance
because these give us a clear picture
of how many jobseekers were assisted
to land in decent and productive wage
employment ,” Baldoz observed.
Baldoz also said there are already
241institutionalized PESOs nationwide,
compared to only 165 in 2012, an
increase on 76; higher by 168 than the
73 in 2011; and up by 176 from the 65
institutionalized PESOs in 2010.
Baldoz, citing the report of the
Bureau of Local Employment which
supervises the PESOs, also said that as
of 30 November, there are already 1,887
“The PESOs in 2013 broke the record for jobseekers placed
by placing 1,092,222 jobseekers to various jobs as of 31
October, exceeding the PESOs’ placement target of 1,025,574
by 6 percent. There is no doubt this is highly attributable to the
number of PESOs that have been institutionalized.”
—Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
Editor
NICON F. FAMERONAG
Director, LCO
Associate Editor
KAREN R. SERRANO
The DOLE Good News is published by the Department
of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the
Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building,
Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are
those of the writers and/or their sources and do not
necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine
Government’s.
Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome.
Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 5273000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also
visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at dole_lco@
yahoo.com or [email protected].
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Speech
during the 80th Founding Anniversary of the
Department of Labor and Employment
December 2013
established PESOs nationwide, compared
to only 1,835 established PESOs in 2012,
an increase of 46 percent. However, of the
number of established PESOs, only 1,270
are operating—providing employment
services at the grassroots level.
“The number of established PESOs in
2013 has increased over last year’s and
so did the number of operational PESOs,
which is already 1,270, compared to
1,212 in 2012; 1,125 in 2011; and
1,059 in 2010. This is an increase of 58
operational PESOs between 2012 and
2013, and 211 between 2010 and 2013,”
Baldoz said.
The labor and employment chief
attributed the increasing number of
workers referred and placed in local and
overseas employment to institutionalized
PESOs.
“The PESOs in 2013 broke the
record for jobseekers placed by placing
1,092,222 jobseekers to various jobs as
of 31 October, exceeding the PESOs’
placement target of 1,025,574 by 6
percent. There is no doubt this is highly
attributable to the number of PESOs
that have been institutionalized,” said
Baldoz.
Baldoz said the DOLE in 2014 will
continue to strengthen its campaign
among local governments for the
institutionalization of their respective
PESOs to enable jobseekers, workers, and
employers to enjoy the PESOs’ frontline
programs and services in employment
facilitation and labor market information
delivery.
Contributing Regional Writers
DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR
PATRICK T. RILLORTA - CAR
ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1
REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2
Staff Writers
MARK JAIME L. CERDENIA
MA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA
CELESTE T. MARING
HAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY
REVELITA F. LAXINA
FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A
Editorial Assistants
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
MADELYN D. DOMETITA
EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7
Graphic Artist
GREGORIO I. GALMAN
GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9
Photographer
JOMAR S. LAGMAY
JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11
Circulation Manager
GIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE
JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3
ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B
RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5
AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6
FLORENCE D. PANAO - Region 8
MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10
CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12
IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga
(Applause) Maraming salamat po. Maupo ho tayo lahat.
A
kala ko may opening remarks ka, Linda. (laughter) Hihinga sana ako
ng konti pero: Secretary Linda Baldoz; Secretary Joel Villanueva;
Secretary Sonny Coloma; Undersecretaries of the Department of
Labor and Employment: Danny Cruz, Rebecca Chato, Ciriaco Lagunzad
III; former secretaries present: Benny Laguesma, Nieves Confesor, Ruben
Torres, Nitoy Roque—sorry, the former secretaries present; attached
agencies; officials and staff of the Department of Labor and Employment;
fellow workers in government; honoured guests; mga minamahal ko pong
kababayan: Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.
Ginawa naman niyo akong teacher. (laughter) Nung binabasa ko po itong
talumpati kaninang umaga talagang napakahaba ng accomplishments niyo,
problema nung mga writer ko hindi nila mailagay lahat ng accomplishments
niyo dahil baka hindi na raw ho tayo matapos. (applause) Mamaya magmimeeting na naman kami, sasabihin ko naman, pag may talumpati kailangan
may istorya tayong sinasabi para madaling maintindihan. Hindi puro, tawag
ko “laundry list,” ililista lang yung accomplishments parang—o ngayon, di
ba, sa dulo. Pero ang haba nga ho, talagang may simpatiya ako sa aking mga
writers. Medyo mahirap talagang ilagay sa isang istorya ang napakahabang
listahan ng, ulit, ng accomplishments po niyo.
Iba po talaga ang DOLE. Noong nakaraang taon lang nang ipaabot ko sa
inyo ang aking paghanga sa matatagumpay ninyong inisyatiba para sa ating
mga manggagawa.
Pinasalamatan ko rin kayo noon sa pagtulong ninyo sa mga kababayan
nating sinalanta ng bagyong Pablo. Kung napakataas na ng antas ng serbisyong
ipinakita ninyo noon, tinumbasan pa ninyo ito ng panibagong gilas ngayong
taon. (applause) Kaya kung happy ako palagay ko mamaya happy rin kayo
lalo. (audience cheering/applause) Paliwanag naman natin bakit tayo dapat
happy lahat (laughter) at ito nga po ang lalong nagpapatingkad sa pagdiriwang
natin sa inyong ika-walumpung anibersaryo. Alam po niyo sa sunud-sunod
na trahedyang dinaanan ng bansa ngayong taon, nariyan ang inyong ahensya
bilang matibay na sandigan ng mga kababayan natin para sa kanilang muling
pagbangon.
Isipin po ninyo: labing-isang araw lang ang nakalipas matapos hagupitin
ng bagyong Yolanda ang kalakhang Kabisayaan, pinangunahan ng DOLE
ang pagkakaloob ng libu-libong emergency employment sa mga apektadong
komunidad. (applause) Si Secretary Linda nga po ang naging punongabala sa koordinasyon ng mga ahensya sa paghahatid ng ayuda para sa
mga biktima. Siya po ang inatasan nating mangasiwa sa Typhoon Yolanda
Information Assistance Center—ang ahensyang nakatoka para sa pagkalap at
pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon ukol sa mga donasyon, volunteers, missing
persons, at pagtukoy sa mga pangangailangan ng komunidad.
Marahil marami ho sa inyo ang nagtataka bakit natoka kaya si Secretary
Linda doon sa lahat na iyon. Si Secretary Dinky ho, si Secretary Volts,
Secretary Mar nakababad sa Kabisayaan ng mga panahong iyan. Si Secretary
Purisima ng Finance biglang naging repacking czar, nadamay pa si Joel
Villanueva na ang buhok ho ngayon ay naging brown, (laughter) dati ho’y
black na black dahil maganda raw ho yung bakasyon niya sa Cebu, (laughter)
siya ho kasi naging repacking czar doon. Secretary Jun naman po ng DOTC
naging transportation czar, at nung andami ngang lumalapit nagbibigay ng
donation either sa pera, in kind, services, etc., tumingin ako sa Gabinete at
naghanap ako ng volunteer. Eh nakita ko si Secretary Linda, kako, Linda, baka
naman kaya mong gawin ito para hindi na sa akin dadaan lahat, at agad hong
nagsabing: Yes, Sir, at talaga namang naging mistulang sariling call center si
Ka Linda. (applause)
Balita ko po, simple na lang din ang ginawa ninyong selebrasyon upang
higit kayong makapaghatid ng tulong sa mga sinalanta nating kababayan.
Hayaan ninyo pong ako na ang magpaabot sa inyo ng isang taos-pusong
pasasalamat. Kapag po talaga masigasig, maaasahan, at sinsero ang ating mga
ahensya sa pagtugon sa mga hamon, talagang naiibsan ang bagabag at agamagam natin sa panahon ng trahedya.
Siyempre, ang epektibong pagtugon sa kalamidad ay isa lang po sa
mahabang listahan ng mga tagumpay ng DOLE sa nakalipas na taon.
Maipagmamalaki rin natin ang pagkakaroon ng stable industrial peace
climate sa bansa. Dahil dito, mas nahihikayat natin ang mga investors para sa
pagpapalawak o pagbubukas nila ng negosyo sa Pilipinas.
Kapansin-pansin nga po ang maayos na relasyon ng ating mga manggagawa
at mga kompanya. Isipin po ninyo: Buhat ng 2010, nananatiling mababa ang
bilang ng mga strike ayon sa National Conciliation and Mediation Board.
Sumasalamin ito sa tagumpay ng Single Entry Approach o SEnA ng DOLE,
kung saan dumadaan sa 30-day conciliation-mediation ang nakahaing labor
cases. Ang maganda nga, sa 152 notices of strike and lockout ngayong taon,
isa lang ang natuloy na welga. (applause) Ito raw po ang pinakamababa sa
kasaysayan ng DOLE. Dahil sa naresolbang mga kaso sa pamamagitan
ng SEnA mula Oktubre 2010 hanggang Setyembre 2013, napadali ang
pagbabayad ng 2.4 billion pesos na monetary benefits para sa 82,578 na
manggagawa. Kaya naman di na po ako nagtatakang nakuha ng SEnA Team
ang CSC Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award ngayong taon. (applause) Last
year raw ho yata dalawa eh, this year isa, so next year siguro pag sinabi niyo
yun: Sir, nakalahati namin ulit, ibig sabihin 0.5, (laughter) medyo kalahating
strike, ano kaya ang kalahati? Hindi ho katanggap-tanggap yung 0.5 ha, baka
kung gawin niyong zero hindi ho ako magagalit sa inyo.
Saludo rin tayo sa new labor law compliance and incentivizing system
bilang tugon sa mga isyung nakapaloob sa labor contractualization. Sa tulong
nito, sinisiguro nating napapangalagaan ang karapatan ng ating manggagawa;
na ang mga kompanyang sakop ng Labor Code ay may tamang pasuweldo at
benepisyo para sa kanilang mga empleyado.
Nakapag-deploy na rin tayo ng Unified Registration System ng Batas
Kasambahay. Sa pagtutulungan ng DOLE, SSS, PhilHealth, at Pag-IBIG, mas
mabilis at simple na ang pagrehistro ng mga employer at kasambahay para
sa kanilang mga benepisyo—2.9 na milyong kasambahay po ang inaasahan
nating makikinabang sa sistemang ito.
Pinalawak din natin ang serbisyo ng Phil-Job.Net para sa epektibong
paglalatag ng oportunidad sa ating mga kababayan. Ang dating 40,000 na
bakanteng trabahong nakapaskil dito noong 2010, umabot na sa 100,000
ang monthly average buhat noong 2012. Habang ang mga rehistradong
establisyamento naman, tumaas din mula 2,000 noong 2010 hanggang maging
30,000 na ito sa kasalukuyan.
Sa pagtutulungan naman ng DOLE, Deped, DSWD, DOH, DA, DILG
at TESDA, pumaspas ang programa natin para palayain at protektahan ang
nasa isandaang libong kabataan mula sa child labor. Sa kasalukuyan, bukod
sa nagkaloob na tayo ng educational assistance sa humigit-kumulang 50,350
batang manggagawa, nabigyan din natin ng marangal na kabuhayan ang
kanilang mga magulang.
Talaga naman pong nag-uumapaw ang tagumpay ng DOLE, at partial list
lang po yung sinabi ko sa inyo. Di ko na iisa-isahin pa ang iba dahil baka
abutin po tayo rito ng Noche Buena (laughter) nakakahiya naman kung
papakainin pa niyo kami.
Patunay lang ang lahat ng ito sa dedikasyon ng DOLE na paglingkuran
ang ating mga Boss, ang sambayanang Pilipino. Pinapatunayan ninyong sa
sumisiglang ekonomiya ng bansa, ang maiiwan na lang ay ang mga ayaw
sumama.
Bilang pinuno, ako naman po ay naniniwala: Marapat na bigyang pagkilala
at parangal ang mga nagpapakitang-gilas sa serbisyo. Kaya naman ikinagagalak
kong ianunsyo sa inyo ang isinagad natin at inaprubahang anniversary bonus
na ten… (applause) wala pa ho yung amount, (laughter) eh ten lang ho sinabi
ko, pwede na ho ba yung ten? (laughter) Di ho, 10,000 pesos (applause) para
sa bawat empleyado ng DOLE. Nawa’y magsilbi itong insentibo at lalo pang
magbigay-lakas ng bawat isa sa atin tungo sa katuparan ng ating mithiin.
Umaasa ako sa patuloy ninyong pakikiisa upang lampasan ng bayan ang
bawat pagsubok. Sama-sama nating ihatid ang bansa tungo sa pangmatagalan
at malawakang kaunlaran kung saan walang sinuman ang maiiwan.
Alam po niyo, ang minungkahi talaga ni Secretary Linda 20,000. Ang
authorized ho kasi 3,000 maliban sa may exemption. Yung exemption ako
raw ho ang nagkakaloob niyan. Sabi ko, eh ang naibigay na ho natin sa iba
ay hanggang 10,000 sa anniversary bonus. Meron pa nga ho akong ni-reject
eh dahil yung bonus nila napaaga sa anniversary. (laughter) Eh yung nag-oauthorize ho sa atin tuwing anniversary lang at saka milestone anniversary—
ang definition po nun every five years. Gusto ko ho man lang, sa totoo lang
ho magaan na magaan yun pagpirma ko nitong inyong anniversary bonus.
(applause) Sa iba ho kasi medyo ang hirap sumayad nung (laughter) fountain
Turn to page 8
December 2013
DOLE Good News
DOLE Good News
2013 Milestones
On ILO’s Convention 189
and Batas Kasambahay
Decent work for kasambahay realized under
Aquino III administration after struggle of
19 years; Batas Kasambahay is hallmark social
legislation; will empower the estimated 1.93
million to 2.5 million domestic workers with
better salaries, better work conditions, and
humane treatment.
• The Philippines played a prominent role
in championing the welfare and protection
of domestic workers worldwide--estimated at
52.6 million--as seen in the adoption of the
ILO’s Decent Work for Domestic Workers
Convention, or C 189.
• C 189 adopted 16 June 2011 at 100th
Session of
the International Labour
Conference; Philippines chaired the twoyear double discussion on the Convention
and Recommendations at the Committee on
Domestic Workers.
• President Benigno S. Aquino III ratified
the Convention on 18 May 2012; Senate
concurred in the ratification on 6 August 2012;
the Philippines was second to ratify, after
Uruguay.
• Convention entered into force on 5
September 2013, a year after the deposit of the
Philippine instrument of ratification with the
ILO on 5 September 2012.
What Secretary Baldoz says:
“This is a rich reward and a happy culmination of
our national collective effort to have this Convention
approved at the ILO and then ratified for it to take
effect. We thank President Aquino III and our
Senators for giving our domestic workers the dignity
they deserve. They will now be regarded as members
of the formal labor sector, with general protection
from abuse and exploitation and their contributions
to our socio-economic development recognized.”
• On 18 January 2013, President Aquino
III signed R. A. 1036, or the “Act Instituting
Policies for the Protection and Welfare
of Domestic Workers,” also called Batas
Kasambahay. The DOLE championed the bill
in the Congress of the Philippines.
• Considered the President’s ‘gift’ to all
Filipino domestic workers--here and abroad-the Kasambahay Law took effect in 2013
after the DOLE and its partner agencies,
namely, the Department of Social Welfare
and Development, Department of Interior and
Local Government, Philippine National Police,
Social Security System, Department of Health,
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, or
PhilHealth, and Home Development Mutual
December 2013
Fund, or Pag-IBIG, signed its implementing rules
and regulations on 9 May.
• On 5 December, the DOLE, Social Security
System, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth, announced
the completion of the Unified Registration System
(URS) for kasambahay and its availability for
stakeholder and public use. Under the law, PagIBIG; PhilHealth; and Social Security System,
or SSS, are mandated to jointly develop and
implement the Kasambahay Unified Registration
System, which adopts a standard and unified
registration procedure to facilitate the seamless
registration of domestic workers.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“After years of legislative struggle, we have marked
a milestone in recognizing the need of our domestic
workers for safe and healthful working conditions,
decent employment and productive employment, and
enhanced social protection. This landmark piece of
social legislation for the rights and welfare of Filipino
household service workers will undoubtedly contribute
to the realization of inclusive growth.”
On Seafarers’ Safety,
Welfare, and Protection
The MLC, 2006 is expected to provide protection
to the approximately 400,000 Filipino seafarers
deployed overseas, who comprise roughly 30
percent of the global maritime fleet, and to the
almost 60,000 domestic seafarers.
• The Philippines became instrumental in the
adoption of the Maritime Labor Convention,
2006 (MLC, 2006) and its entry into force.
• President Benigno S. Aquino III ratified the
MLC, 2006 on 20 August 2012, ushering its entry
into force one year later, on 20 August 2013. The
Philippines was the 30th and final ILO-member
ratifying state required for the Convention to
enter into force.
• Known as the “international bill of rights of
seafarers,” the MLC, 2006 is the fourth pillar of
international shipping, the other three being the
International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), the Prevention of Maritime Pollution
from Ships (MARPOL), and the Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW) Convention of the International
Maritime Organization.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“The Philippines played an instrumental role
in the adoption of the MLC, 2006 and its entry into
force, which honors the world’s 1.2 million seafarers
worldwide. The Philippines, through the Department
of Labor and Employment, devoted all possible efforts
to ensure that the MLC, 2006 is realized for this, indeed,
guarantees the protection and welfare of all seafarers,
including local Filipino seafarers and Filipino seafarers
manning more than a third of the world’s global
shipping fleet at any given time.”
• After the MLC, 2006’s entry into force,
the DOLE has moved swiftly to lay down
the framework for the Philippines’s effective
compliance with the Convention, through the
following issuances:
(1) Department Order No. 132-13, Series of
2013, “Guidelines on Maritime Occupational
Safety and Health”; Issued on 8 August 2013;
(2) Department Order No. 131-13, “Rules on
Labor Laws Compliance System”; Issued on 19
July 2013;
(3) Labor Advisory No. 02-2013, Series
of 2013, “Requirements for Compliance with
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006”; Issued on
8 July 2013;
(4) Department Order. No. 130-A, Series
of 2013, “Guidelines on the Authorization of
Recognized Organizations to Conduct Inspection
and Certification of Philippine-Registered Ships
Engaged in International Voyages Pursuant to the
Maritime Labor Convention, 2006”; Issued on 5
July 2013;
(5) Department Order No. 130, Series of 2013,
“Rules and Regulations on the Employment of
Filipino Seafarers Onboard Philippine-Registered
Ships Engaged in International Voyages”; Issued
on 7 June 2013; and
(6) Department Order No. 129, Series of
2013, “Rules and Regulations Governing the
Employment and Working Conditions of
Seafarers Onboard Ships Engaged in Domestic
Shipping”; Issued on 7 June 2013.
What Secretary Baldoz says:
“The entry into force of the Maritime Labour
Convention, 2006 underscores the need for all
stakeholders to swiftly put into place the right balance
between ensuring decent work for seafarers and securing
fair competition and a level playing field for quality
shipowners.”
“As a seafaring nation, we ought to move alongside our
tripartite partners in the Maritime Industry Tripartite
Council so that compliant shipowners and manning
agencies are protected from undercutting by shipowners
with substandard ships or who offer substandard benefits
and working conditions to Filipino seafarers.”
“To strengthen our efforts in fully implementing the
MLC, 2006 we need your cooperation and support in
pushing for the passage of the magna carta for seafarers,
and in the review of the POEA Rules and Regulations
for the sea-based sector, in the context of MLC, 2006
and better protection for seafarers.”
On Child Labor
H.E.L.P. M.E., which President Aquino III
tasked the Human Development and Poverty
Reduction Cabinet Cluster to formulate, will
contribute to the realization of the country’s
ultimate Millennium Development Goal of
eradicating poverty through decent work, says
Baldoz
Secretary Baldoz says:
“I welcome the US DOL’s 2012 report for
appreciating the efforts of the administration of
President Benigno S. Aquino III in reducing and
eliminating exploitative child labor, identifying the
Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, 20112016 as one of potent government policies in reducing
the worst forms of child labor.”
the Millennium Development Goals 2000-2015;
Education for All National Plan 2004-2015;
Basic Education Reform Agenda, and the UN
Development Assistance Framework 2012-2018.
On the Protection of Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs)
Agreements signed in 2013:
• “Memorandum of Agreement and Labour
Cooperation Between the Government of the
Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines”;
signed between H.E. Ambassador Christian
Anthony Vihruri and Secretary Baldoz on 26
November 2013.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“By 2016 we aim to have freed at least 75 percent
of the 2.9 million child laborers in the country. We
intend to vigorously implement H.E.L.P. M.E. through
stronger cooperation among partners to ensure that this
target is achieved.”
“The agreement will pave the way for stronger
cooperation on matters relating to labor, facilitate labor
market access and labor mobility, and enhance protection
for some 30,000 OFWs in Papua New Guinea, in
accordance with existing rules and regulations.”
• As of 31 October, the DOLE’s Child LaborFree Barangay Campaign has reached 11,573
children in 132 barangays all over the country.
• “Memorandum of Understanding Between
the Department of Labor and Employment of the
Government of the Republic of the Philippines
and Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of the
Province of Saskatchewan as represented by
the President of the Executive Council”; signed
by Secretary Baldoz and Premier Brad Wall of
Saskatchewan, Canada on 7 October 2013.
• In these barangays, DOLE has activated 171
Barangay Council for the Protection of Children
(BCPC). The BCPC delivers convergent programs
and services to children, including livelihood
support to parents to ensure they keep their
children in school and away from child labor.
• At the national level, the new national
convergence Plan, H.E.L.P. M. E., has been
approved with a budget of P5 billion spread over
three years, from 2014-1026. The DOLE’s share
in the H.E.L.P. M. E. budget is P50 million for
2014; P100 million for 2015; and P150 million for
2016.
• On 26 September 2013, the report of the
United States Department of Labor, “2012
Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor”
cited the Philippines as one of 10 countries, out
of 144, which “made significant advancement
in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child
labor”, as well as H.E.L.P. M. E. to remove
893,000 children from hazardous child labor
across 15,568 target barangays by 2016 through
a convergence strategy that brings down the
government’s child labor programs and services
down the barangay level, the lowest echelon of
governance in the country.
• The report observed that the goal of reducing
child labor is already mainstreamed into the
Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016, the
accompanying document of the Philippine
Development Plan 2011-2016, and included in
The MOU seeks to implement (a) streamlined,
efficient, and ethical recruitment practices in
HR between the Philippines and Saskatchewan;
(b) arrangements for skills training, upgrading,
and mutual recognition; (3) mechanisms of
monitoring OFW recruitment to Saskatchewan
in third countries and protection under the laws;
(4) transparent access of OFWs to justice system;
and (5) support to integration, reintegration, and
HRD programs.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“This is the first of a ‘new generation’ of agreements
that incorporate HRD concerns and paved the way
for three other MOUs with the Canadian provinces of
Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta. It aligns
with recent policy developments in both countries . . .
This will open up more job prospects and provide better
protection for OFWs in Saskatchewan.”
• “Agreement on Domestic Worker Recruitment
Between the Ministry of Labor of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and the Department of Labor
and Employment of the Republic of the
Philippines”; signed by Secretary Baldoz and
Saudi Arabia Labor Minister Engineer Adel
Bin Mohammed Fakeih on 19 May 2013.
The agreement, the first by Saudi with a
country of origin of migrant workers, will
benefit some 60,000 Filipino HSWs in Saudi
Arabia, and thousands more who intend to
work in the Kingdom.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“This agreement is ‘historic”. It heralds
an era of stronger bilateral labor cooperation
between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines for
the better protection and welfare of HSWs in the
Kingdom.
“We expect that this agreement will increase
the number of HSWs employed in Saudi Arabia,
but we are very confident that cases of abuse will
be less because the agreement ensures fair and
humane treatment of our HSWs and involves
not only the government, but also the private
recruitment agencies, and other stakeholders in
its implementation.”
In October this year, the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers
approved Resolution No. 310, or the
Household Regulation on Service Workers
and Similar Categories, which outlines the
rights and obligations of migrant HSWs
and their Saudi employers.
• “Agreement Concerning the Placement
of Filipino Health Professionals in
Employment Positions in the Federal
Republic of Germany”; signed by POEA
Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac and
Director Monika Varnhagen of the German
Federal Employment Agency/International
Placement Services (BA/ZAV) on 19 March
2013.
Secretary Baldoz says:
“The conclusion of this agreement concerning
the government-to-government placement of
Filipino health professionals for temporary
employment in Germany manifests the
Philippine government’s firm commitment to
provide for an orderly system for the recruitment
of Filipino healthcare professionals . . . and to
promote their welfare and protection, as well
as well as to cooperate with Germany on the
promotion and sustainability of HRD in the
Philippines. These are elements in the joint
management of migration that has a strong
potential to contribute to a “triple win” for the
workers, employers, and for the two countries.”
On 14 December, the first batch of health
workers under the agreement, composed
of four nurses, had left for Germany.
Deployment of succeeding batches is
expected starting January 2014.
December 2013
DOLE Good News
DOLE Good News
Report on 2013 CBEP
More than 1.7 million disadvantaged Filipinos
hired under DOLE-monitored CBEP
L
abor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said
the convergent Community-Based
Employment Program (CBEP), which the
DOLE is tasked to monitor, had benefited
1,717,207 disadvantaged persons, including
disaster victims, across the country’s 17
regions in terms of short-term jobs as of 10
December 2013.
“This is an initial rounded-up figure.
More data on CBEP jobs generated during
the year are expected from the government
agencies under the program, so the final
2013 figure will be higher. We hope to
surpass the 2,324,311 actual jobs generated
under the CBEP in 2012,” said Baldoz.
As of 10 December 2013, the 1,717,207
CBEP-based infrastructure and noninfrastructure jobs generated jointly by
government agencies are as follows:
Department of Agrarian Reform (6,838);
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (43,896); Department of Labor
and Employment (212,388); Department
of Public Works and Highways (144,216);
Department of Social Welfare and
Development (204,987); Department
of Tourism (347); Department of Trade
and Industry (1,466); Department of
Transportation and Communication
(1,044); Clark Development Corporation
(402); Commission on Filipinos Overseas
(103); and National Housing Authority
(1,101,492).
Other agencies expected to report more
CBEP jobs generated are the Departments
of Agriculture; Education; Tourism;
Foreign Affairs; Energy; and Health;
People’s Credit and Finance Corporation;
Intramuros Administration; Philippine
Enterprise Zone Authority; Light Rail
Transit Authority; Office Transportation
Security; Philippine National Railways;
Philippine Ports Authority; Commission
December 2013
on Filipinos Overseas; Landbank of
the Philippines; Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority; and National
Youth Commission.
The preliminary 1,717,207 jobs generated
as of 10 December 2013 consist of (a)
75.2 percent or 1,290,814 infrastructure
jobs; and (b) 24.8 percent or 426,393 noninfrastructure jobs. The regional CBEP
breakdown is as follows:
National Capital Region (NCR), 25,630
jobs generated (5,190 infrastructure, and
20,440 non-infrastructure);
Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR), 24,283
(6,328 infrastructure, 17,955 non-
“The convergent, interagency Community-Based
Employment Program is an
effective avenue by which
all major agencies of the
Philippine government
could respond, and in
effect, help disadvantaged
people stand back on
their own feet.”
infrastructure); Region I, 83,112 (67,354
infrastructure, 15,758 non-infrastructure);
Region II, 69,569 (53,248 infrastructure,
16,321 non-infrastructure);
Region
III, 453,982 (418,010 infrastructure,
35,972 non-infrastructure);
Region
IV-A, 335,656 (308,704 infrastructure,
26,952 non-infrastructure);Region IV-B,
29,878 (7,868 infrastructure, 22,010 noninfrastructure);Region V, 62,545 (40,120
infrastructure, 22,425 non-infrastructure);
Region VI, 102,165(80,762 infrastructure,
21,403 non-infrastructure);Region VII,
58,054 (18,878 infrastructure, 39,176
non-infrastructure); Region VIII, 42,009
(26,471 infrastructure, 15,538 noninfrastructure);
Region IX, 108,633
(77,152 infrastructure, 31,481 noninfrastructure); Region X,117,514 (55,922
infrastructure, 61,592 non-infrastructure);
Region XI, 66,555 (51,274 infrastructure,
15,281 non-infrastructure); Region XII,
41,385 (25,235 infrastructure, 16,150 noninfrastructure);CARAGA, 64,317 (16,667
infrastructure, 47,650 non-infrastructure);
and ARMM, 31,073 (all infrastructure
jobs).
The DOLE as chairman of the CBEP
Steering Committee leads in coordinating
and monitoring jobs generated by various
agencies with enrolled infrastructure and
non-infrastructure projects under CBEP
through the CBEP Online Monitoring and
Reporting System.
“The
convergent,
inter-agency
Community-Based Employment Program
is an effective avenue by which all major
agencies of the Philippine government
could respond, and in effect, help
disadvantaged people stand back on their
own feet,” said Baldoz.
Begun in 2011, the CBEP is a priority
convergence programs aimed to contribute
to the national goal of inclusive growth,
poverty reduction, and job creation,
particularly in the countryside, or the local
community.
The CBEP is consistent with the
overarching goal enunciated by President
Benigno S. Aquino III, in his 22-point
labor and employment agenda, to “invest
in our country’s top resource, our human
resource, to make us more competitive and
employable while promoting industrial
peace based on social justice,” by working
“with relevant government agencies in
enhancing social protection programs .
. . while strengthening the Emergency
Community
Employment
Program
(ECEP) to create jobs immediately so
people can still have income to spend for
their basic needs.”
The CBEP has three components,
namely: (a) Infrastructure projects that
generate jobs through the construction of
roads, bridges, flood control structures,
school buildings, and water systems; (b)
non-infrastructure projects covering social
infrastructure like reforestation, coastal
resource management, livelihood and
self-employment undertakings/projects;
and (c) emergency employment projects
or income support endeavors that create
short-term wage employment or selfemployment in distressed/remote areas,
especially those affected by calamities/
contingencies.
T
he DOLE is ending the year 2013
with a modest, but bountiful harvest,
of 58 private companies with
tripartite certification of compliance with
labor standards.
Labor and Employment Secretary
Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz proudly said this
as she congratulated the 58 establishments
that have been awarded the Department
of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE)
Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with
Labor Standards (TCCLS) in the latter part
of the year after “very careful” tripartite
assessment and verification.
“The 58 companies is a modest start,
but they set the example as models of the
DOLE’s new and vigorous pursuit of the
best in voluntary compliance with the
country’s labor standards. The value of the
award lies in the fact that it was tripartite in
nature, meaning, it’s the workers and their
peers in the industry which decided on the
award,” she said.
The TCCLS awardees cut across the
major industries of the country, such
as
healthcare/hospitals,
educational
institutions, manufacturing (food, beverage,
packaging, infrastructure, semiconductors
and electronics, wiring harness) services,
hotel
and
restaurant,
agri-business,
agriculture, wholesale and retail trade,
power generation, transportation, electronic
information processing services, mining,
and construction.
2013 TCCLS scorecard: 58 models of voluntary labor law compliance
Baldoz congratulates Philippine industry
awardees of tripartite certification
The TCCLS constitutes the first level
seal of good housekeeping issued by the
DOLE through its regional offices to
enrolled establishments that consistently
comply voluntarily with labor standards.
“The Award is bestowed upon deserving
establishments that mirror excellence in
voluntary labor standards compliance,” said
Baldoz.
The TCCLS is instituted under
Department Order No. 115-11, Series of
2011, otherwise known as the Guidelines
in the Implementation of the Incentivizing
Compliance Program (ICP). The Guidelines
promote
voluntary
labor
standards
compliance with general labor standards,
occupational safety and health standards,
and the country’s Child Labor Law, Republic
Act 9231, by giving due recognition and
incentives to compliant establishments.
It is a basic pre-qualification requirement
to the DOLE Secretary’s Labor Law
Compliance Award and to the golden
standard to voluntary labor standards
compliance in the Philippines, the Tripartite
Seal of Excellence.
DOLE-RO3 AWARDED TCCLS. DOLE-Regional Office No. 3 Regional Director Raymundo Agravante (7th
from left) demonstrate the thumbs-up sign with representatives of eleven (11) companies that have
been issued Tripartite Certificate of Compliance on Labor Standards (TCCLS) during the TCCLS awarding
ceremony held at San Fernando, Pampanga. Joining the Regional Director are RTIPC Vice Chair for Labor
Allan Del Rosario, Supervising LEO Yolanda Bugay, and other DOLE officials. (Photo by DOLE-RO3)
Promoting industry self-governance in 2013
DOLE brings PH voluntary codes of good practices to 108
M
oving steadily towards the
development of a culture of
voluntary compliance with labor
standards and occupational health and
safety, the government remains upbeat
in raising the bar of competitiveness and
industry self-governance through the
establishment of Voluntary Codes of
Good Practices (VCGPs).
This was the statement of Labor
and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz as she bared that the
number of tripartite Voluntary Codes
of Good Practices, the DOLE-initiated
reform on industry self-governance, has
reached 108 in 2013.
A reform measure of the DOLE,
the formulation and forging of VCGPs
are based on Department Order
No. 115-11, Series of 2011, or the
Guidelines on the Implementation of
the Incentivizing Compliance Program
(ICP), which Baldoz issued on 6 May
2011.The National Tripartite Industrial
Peace Council (NTIPC) supports the
reform.
“The VCGPs formulated and adopted
in various industries reflects the increasing
number of sectors and sub-sectors of the
economy embracing the DOLE reform of
fostering partnerships in labor governance
towards
developing
industry-based
approaches on self-regulation,” Baldoz
said.
In 2013, 26 new VCGPs have been
forged in the following industries:
manufacturing, hotel and restaurant,
and wholesale and retail in Cordillera
Administrative Region; private hospitals
and clinics in Region 2; mining,
construction, school, hotel and restaurant
in Region 3; sugar in Region 4-A;
manufacturing in Region VIIl; academe
and domestic shipping in Region 4-B;
ITC manufacturing, ITC academe, and
land transportation in Region 6; maritime
in Region 7; bus transport in Region
8; maritime in Region 9; maritime,
bus transport, and hotels, resorts, and
restaurants in Region 10; and academe
in Region 12.
The new industry codes sum up the
latest count of VCGPs to 108.
The regions with the most number of
VCGPs forged are Region 3, with 23;
Region 10, with 10; National Capital
Region, with 8; and Regions 6, 8, and
12, with seven each.
The rest of the industry codes were
adopted by industries in Regions 1 and
4-B, with six; Regions 4-A, 7, Caraga,
and CAR with five each; Regions 9
and 11 with four each; Region 2 with
three; Region 5 with two; and NCMB
with one voluntary industry code at a
national level.
The VCGPs established by the DOLE,
in coordination with the regional
offices and industry tripartite councils
nationwide, cater to the followings
industries:
Banking,
Aviation,
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO),
Bus Transport, Cargo and Logistics,
Electronics and Semiconductors, farmbased industries like Abaca, Banana,
Plantations, Pineapple, and Rubber,
Fishing, Construction, Hospitals, Hotels
and Restaurants, Information and
Communications Technology (ICT),
Maritime, Marine, Mining, Power and
Electricity, Schools and the Academe,
Sub-Contracting, Shipbuilding and
Repair, Tourism and Eco-Tourism, and
Wood-based industries.
December 2013
Pamaskong
Mensahe
ng Kalihim
A
ng taong 2013 ay puno ng hamon at
pagsubok, hindi lamang sa atin sa DOLE,
kundi maging sa ating mga kababayan sa
Pilipinas at maging sa labas ng bansa.
Nguni’t hitik rin ang taong ito ng biyaya,
tagumpay, at bunga ng ating pagsisikap na mabago
ang takbo ng pamumuhay ng bawa’t Pilipino. Sa
taong 2013 ay nakita natin ang pagsibol ng pagasa na nag-uugat na ang ating sinimulan na mga
reporma.
Kaya naman sa panahong ito ng Pasko, sa halip
na panghinaan ng loob sa mga matitinding hagupit
ng pagsubok na sumapit sa atin ngayong taon,
higit kong pinagtutuunan ang maging maligaya sa
pasasalamat sa Panginoong Diyos sa mga biyayang
kaniyang ipinagkaloob sa bawa’t isa sa atin sa DOLE
at sa mga kababayang ating pinaglilingkuran.
Lubos din ang aking pasasalamat sa inyo at sa
inyong patuloy na suporta at pakikiisa sa ating
pagsusumikap na makapaglingkod ng buong husay
at tapat upang ating makamit ang sama-samang
pag-unlad na siyang pambansang mithiin ng ating
Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III.
Ngayong Pasko, ang tangi kong hangad at dasal
ay kapayapaan para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino at
para sa bansang Pilipinas; panibagong pag-asa para
sa mga nakaranas ng siphayo; at ibayong biyaya
para sa lahat ng mga Pilipinong manggagawa at mga
namumuhunan sa bansa.
Harinawa ay patuloy ang pagpapala na
ipinagkakaloob sa atin ng ating Poong Maykapal.
Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon
sa ating lahat!
ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS-BALDOZ
Kalihim
Kagawaran ng Paggawa at Panghanapbuhay
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Speech . . . from page 3
pen, naalala ko ho yung mga accomplishments nila medyo manipis eh. Pero dito
nga ho, sa totoo lang, gusto kong gawing 20, pero pag ginawa ko hong 20…
(crowd cheering) Hindi ho, tama muna, iba yung gusto ko sa pwede. (laughter)
Alam niyo kayo nagpapaalala kay Secretary Abad, hindi ba, syempre at saka
ating ibang mga miyembro ng Gabinete, ibigay mo sa isa kailangan mo ibigay
sa lahat. Eh yung lahat ho 1.6 million eh tapos 10,000 baka mag-overtime sina
Chair Grace Tan ng COA. (laughter)
Kaya pagpapasensyahan na niyo baka dapat i-review natin yan pag talaga
namang meritorious makahanap ng panibagong rule. So, pag tinitignan ko po ang
DOLE, at ito po’y sa pagtatapos, una, pasalamatan ko ang ating dating Kalihim
Benny Laguesma. Sa totoo lang po, siya ang inalok ko na maging Secretary
of Labor, at (applause) that time hindi ho siya pwede, inirekomenda sa atin si
Rosalinda Baldoz. (applause) Hindi ko po siya kilala sa simula’t sapul, hindi
ko siya naka-trabaho sa anumang larangan. Si Danny pa yata nakatrabaho ko at
one point in time. Pero sa totoo lang po, Benny, talagang napakaganda ng iyong
advice, wala akong masasabi kay Linda kungdi paghanga. (applause)
Sa lahat po ng pinagdaanan talagang damang-dama kong kabalikat siya. Talaga
hong palagay ko hulog sa akin ng langit si Linda na pwede namang kaliwa’t
kanan ang ibigay sa aking problema bagkus kada may itatanong ako sa kanya
halos nauuuna na iyong sagot bago sa tanong. (laughter/applause) Maski gaano
kabigat ang problema po nandyan siya, hindi ho nasa likuran ko, nasa tabi ko
kung minsan nasa harapan ko, (laughter) at handa hong harapin maski anuman.
Talaga pong team player, wala na tayong masasabi kung hindi, Linda wala kang
karapatan na magbitiw sa serbisyo (laughter) bago sa akin. (applause)
So ako po’y bababa sa puwesto June 30, 2016. Siguro pwede ka nang
mahuli sa akin ng mga July 1. (laughter) Pero sa totoo lang nga ho yung hindi
naman niya magagawa lahat kung hindi sa pagtutulungan, pagdadamayan ng
buong pamilya ng DOLE. (applause) Pasensya na nga po ang pagtanaw ng
estado ng pasasalamat ay naipapakita lang sa bonus—pasensya na medyo
kakarampot, sana naging 12,000 man lang 1,000 a month. (laughter) Ang
problema lang ho yung batas na nag-o-authorize ay 1990 whatever pa ho—
3,000 lang ang nakalagay doon. Sabi ko, hanggang ganito na lang ba? Sabi,
pwede nating ilagay hanggang plus 7,000. Sige kako, hanggang dito na lang
ba talaga? (laughter) Pero yun na nga ho, ang sagad ho na naipagkaloob natin
sa iba para pare-parehas naman, walang tampuhan ay 10,000. Pero pagbalik
na pagbalik ko sa opisina kailangan papa-review na po natin kay ES, sa Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel at saka Secretary of the Budget (applause) na baka
pwedeng rebisitahin o bisitahin muli, rebisahin yung batas na nag-o-authorize
sa pangulo sa pagdedeklara ng ­bonus. Palagay ko ho, maghahanap lang kaming
ibang paraan para ipakita kung anong pasasalamat ng estado. Ulitin ko po:
kayo po’y inaasahan ng sambayanan, palagay ko naman ho, dapat masabi ng
sambayanan asahan ninyo sila.
Magandang araw po. Maraming salamat sa inyo. (applause)