Institutionalize ‘DOLE clinics,’ officials told
TO FACILITATE immediate and effective delivery of DOLE Services, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed all Regional Directors to establish ‘DOLE Clinics’ in Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) of local government units nationwide.
‘DOLE Clinic’ is a mechanism to bring the DOLE closer to the community by providing pre-employment facilitation, labor standards enforcement, dispute resolution and livelihood assistance.
“This will be the center of the Department’s public assistance at the community level. It will offer information, services, and referral to appropriate agencies on matters such as local and overseas employment, entitlements under general labor standards and occupational safety and health standards, labor relations, and livelihood assistance,” Bello said.
The labor chief added that all bureaus and attached agencies have been directed to produce necessary information, education and communication materials related to their respective areas of expertise and jurisdiction to support the DOLE community outreach program.
“Our regional directors shall ensure that Labor and Employment Education Services (LEES) materials are available at the local government units through the PESOs,” Bello added.
With the institutionalization of the community service program, the DOLE regional offices, bureaus and attached agencies will conduct a one-day forum on labor and employment concerns at least once a month, and synchronized with the major activities of local government units.
The DOLE Clinic Steering Committee, chaired by Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod and co-chaired by Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, will formulate the detailed ‘clinics’ guidelines and harmonize it with the activities of DOLE regional offices.
The members of the committee are the Chairperson of the National Labor Relations Commission, the Administrators of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Executive Director of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board, and the Directors of Bureau of Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Relations, Bureau of Local Employment, Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, together with the Administrative Service as the secretariat.