‘Whole-of-society’ approach to address labor issues – DOLE chief

MANILA – Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Thursday underscored the importance of a “whole-of-society” approach to address the country's labor issues.

Speaking at the Trabaho Para Sa Bayan: Job Opportunities Building Skills (J.O.B.S.) Project at the SM Music Hall, Laguesma said the commitment of the government, as well as the private sector, particularly the employers, is needed to address various issues in the labor sector, such as the creation of quality and decent jobs for Filipinos.

The signing of the memorandum of commitment with the Private Sectors Advisory Council (PSAC), SM Foundation, Jobstreet by SEEK, and other business groups also coincided with the opening of 2,498 job vacancies from 32 companies.

“Today's commitment signing not only symbolizes your dedication to supporting the creation of quality and decent jobs but also serves as a reminder that the responsibility of employment is not solely government responsibility alone but the private sector responsibility as well, a whole of society approach for everyone,” Laguesma said.

He cited PSAC’s commitment and full support for the administration's job generation goal and upskilling Filipino workers under the government’s national employment master plan through the “Trabaho para sa Bayan Act.”

Reacting to calls made by Laguesma, Deborah Sy, executive director of the SM Foundation, said the event is a reflection of the commitment by the private sector in support of government efforts to reduce the job mismatch gap and carry out the needed upskilling of applicants.

“With today’s gathering of giants of industries, big associations, and government leaders, we hope to contribute to providing employment opportunities to more of our fellow Filipinos,” she said.

Sy said SM Supermalls have been holding weekly job fairs in their various locations nationwide since January this year. Dannah Majarocon, managing director of Jobstreet by SEEK, urged employers to post their job vacancies online. “Jobstreet by SEEK now provides employers regardless of location, regardless of job level across the country free access to job posting,” she said.

Majarocon added that they also help and promote the upskilling and reskilling of candidates.

Meanwhile, job seeker Maria Joana Antolin, a graduating Business Administration student said she is looking for a back office job. “Para after ng graduation may mapapasukan na agad (So that after graduation I already have a job),” she said.

Another graduating student Rose Alia said she does not want to waste her time while waiting for the graduation ceremony in July.

Alia, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Office Administration said she prepared numerous copies of her resumé, hoping to land a job.

“Para may ginagawa na ako habang naghihintay ng graduation para hindi masayang ang araw, marami din kasing expenses pag graduate, para yung salary maka-help na sa expenses (So that I am already doing something while waiting for graduation. There are also expenses, so my salary could help),” she said.

Laguesma expressed hope that more jobs would be created in the coming months and that more Filipinos get employed through the various job fairs launched by the government and the private sector.

He said DOLE is continuously working with other government agencies, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to promote employability.

He added that DOLE has also strengthened its Career Development Guidance Counseling to assist job seekers.