CHAPTER 8  LABOR

   In 2006, the total persons in the labor force decreased compared to 2005 and 2004.  Interestingly, the data within the three-year period is on a decreasing trend despite the increase in population of those 15 years old and over.  As shown in the graph below (Figure 1), twenty-eight thousand persons opted not to join the labor force population.  Correspondingly, this behavior resulted to an increase in the number of those not in the labor force.  From 919 thousand workers in 2004, the number rose to 962 thousand in 2005 to yet again increase to 1,085 million in 2006.  The total employed, although decreased in 2005, increased again by 33 thousand persons, or from 1,919 in 2005 to 1,952 in 2006.  Total unemployed is on a downward trend but this cannot be taken to mean less people are out of jobs as they opted not to join the labor force instead.

               Source: NSO V

   The decreasing pattern in the total number of persons in the labor force marks a corresponding decrease in the labor force participation rate (LFPR).  As shown in figure 2 below, LFPR is highest in 2004 (69.7 percent) and lowest in 2006 (65.6 percent).  In the same manner, the growth in the number of employed brought an increase in employment rate, while the decrease in the number of unemployed also brought a decrease in the the unemployment rate.

  Source: NSO V

 

   By type of industry, agriculture still stands as the top employer in the region.  The services sector has been closing the gap as more and more people seek employment in this sector. The industry sector however, has been lagging behind and continues to decline as can be seen in figure 3.

                     Source: NSO V

   By sex, the graph below (Figure 4) shows that the agriculture sector is male dominated while the services sector is a female dominated field. More males (58.7 percent) are employed in agriculture while the female comprise only 28 percent.  Opposite that is the services sector where more females (62 percent) are employed than the males (29.9 percent).  The industry sector employs 11.6 percent males and 10.2 percent females.

                   Source: NSO V

   As a whole, the labor and employment picture for 2006 is relatively good as depicted in the increase in the number of persons employed, the decrease in the unemployed, increase in the employment rate and the decrease in unemployment rate.  It should be noted, however, that despite the efforts of agencies and LGUs in job creation, job opportunities is still wanting given the increase in the number of persons who are not in the labor force or who opted not to work which causes the decrease in labor force participation rate in the region.

 

   The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in accordance with its mandate and following the strategies in the plan, has the following accomplishments for 2006:

1. Support Services for Employment Generation

• Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES)

A total of 2,833 job vacancies were solicited, that is 21 percent above the annual target of 2,363.  Nine thousand six hundred three students availed of the program, 5,576 were referred and 2,720 were placed.  The local governments played a significant role in this when they shouldered 100% of the students’ salaries.

• Work Appreciation Program (WAP)

Only one establishment availed of this program where two students were registered, referred and placed.

• Tulong Alalay Sa Taong May Kapansanan (TULAY)

A total of 136 differently abled applicants were registered, 131 were referred and 40 were placed. Most of the employed differently abled jobseekers were from Camarines Norte.

• Kasanayan at Hanapbuhay (KASH)

Participated in by 149 representatives from private establishments and PESO this joint project of DOLE and TESDA was able to conduct six orientations.  The field offices of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and Masbate conducted eight advocacies in private firms where a total of 98 firms benefited. Of the 39 applicants from Catanduanes who underwent the program, 36 were gainfully employed at the First Catnaduanes Electric Cooperative (FICELCO).

• Promotion of Employment through Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship Development (PRESEED)

 Accreditation of Co-partners.  Ten workers organizations were accredited making them eligible beneficiaries of the livelihood program.  One ACP was awarded with training-cum-production which resulted to the establishment of pineapple cloth weaving project generating 10 jobs.  The rest of the ACPs were completing their requirements for the training-cum-production.

• Poverty Free Zone (PFZ)

Three poverty free zones are established in the region and these are: a) Banquerohan Resettlement Site Neighborhood Association in Legazpi City; b) Samahan ng Ina at Amang Manggagawa in Gainza, Camarines Sur; and c) one in Camarines Norte.  Twelve monitoring and three technical assistance activities were provided to the association. The production of pinukpok, however, is temporarily suspended due to the damages brought by typhoon Reming.  In Gainza, three capability trainings were conducted and two technical assistance activities were provided to the beneficiaries.  The DOLE Regional Office and its field office in Camarines Sur are studying the market of talangka with hopes of coming up with a sustainable project.   As initiated by the Camarines Norte field office, a total of seven linkages for the poverty free zone site 3 were established resulting to the conduct of four information education campaign activities.

• Informal Sector-Workers Micro Finance Program (IS-WMP)

Forty-two organizations with 766 informal sector workers benefited from the program advocacy and orientation on the program.  Nineteen orientations on social protection were also conducted resulting to the enrolment of 2,221 informal sector workers in PHILHEALTH and 1,807 workers enrolled in SSS.

• National Program Against Child Labor

The provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte were able to come up with a master list of child laborers.  They also conducted regular monitoring, provided technical assistance to LGUs and NGOs, and established Sagip Batang Manggagawa program in their respective provinces.  In the provinces of Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, where child labor practices is prominently noted, eight advocacy and social mobilization were conducted.  Thus three surveillance and two rescue operations were conducted whereby five minors were saved from worst forms of child labor practices.

• Social Amelioration Program (SAP)

Cash bonus distribution program. PhP1,833,863.83 was distributed to 7,554 mill and field workers for crop year 2003-2004.  For crop year 2005-2006, 45 sugar workers were recipients of the PhP18,513 remaining cash bonus of December 2005.

 

Welfare program.  43 women sugar workers were paid PhP86,000.00 under the maternity benefit program while  PhP126,000.00 was awarded to the heirs of 18 deceased sugar workers under the death benefit program.

 

District Tripartite Council (DTC).  The council approved the resolution of the Planters Association and Cooperatives supporting the Classroom Galing sa Mamamayang Abroad (CGMA) Program of the President.

• Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development (WEED)

22 new women organizations having a total of 618 members were assisted and duly registered with DOLE.  Three values orientation, leadership and awareness seminars were conducted in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon.  Documents and other requirements for the availment of funds from the livelihood program are being processed while monitoring and technical assistance is being provided to one on-going livelihood project in Camarines Sur.

2. Employment Facilitation

• Public Employment Service Office (PESO)

The empowerment of the PESO in the region resulted in 54,763 job vacancies solicited and 14,618 jobseekers registered.  7,340 of the registered jobseekers were  referred for formal employment and 3,847 were placed.  The low placement rate of 42 percent is attributed to the lack of job vacancies for local employment.

• Jobs Fair/ PRA/SRA

The joint efforts of the DOLE field offices and LGUs through the PESO resulted in the conduct of 29 jobs fairs with solicited vacancies of 77,525 for both local and overseas employment.  A total of 6,096 jobseekers availed of the program where 276 were hired on the spot, 251 placed for local employment and 22 applicants were deployed overseas.

 

Under the special recruitment activities, 7,022 applicants registered, 6,632 were referred and 700 were either placed or deployed.

• Career Guidance/Employment Regulation Activities/Labor Market Information (LMI)

Career Guidance Day activities were conducted by both the DOLE Regional Office (32) and the PESOs (70), which benefited 24,863 students.  On employment regulation, one new authority to recruit, 17 alien permits was issued by the DOLE V, and nine contractors were registered. 

 

For 2006, 648 users/clients were provided with LMI reports that greatly helped in job facilitation and in avoiding job mismatch.

3. Employment Preservation

• Union and CBA Registration/Scholarship for Union Members

Two unions and seven CBAs were registered for the year; nine union members were benefited by the scholarship program.

• Rural Workers Associations (RWA) Registration

Sixty-six rural workers associations were given assistance by the DOLE provincial offices but only 61 completed the required documents and  were able to register.

• Labor Education Seminar

Twelve labor education seminars were conducted covering 49 unionized establishments with a total of 522 participants. For the non-unionized establishments, 201 seminars were conducted to 601 establishments with a total of 1,262 participants.  Seminars also were conducted to 6,154 graduating students of 40 tertiary schools and eight secondary schools with 191 students.

• Small Money Claims

Under the full supervision of the field offices, 266 small money claims were handled covering 274 workers.  Two hundred forty-seven of these cases were disposed and PhP1,234,888.00 was awarded to 216 workers.

• Quick Response Team

The poor economic situation in the region following the recent typhoons that heavily devastated the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes caused the closure of 15 establishments.  In response to this, quick response activities were conducted and 232 displaced workers were given assistance.

• Dialogues and Consultations with Tripartite Organizations

To promote harmonious and productive environment among the establishments’ owners and their co-workers, six tripartite industrial peace council consultations and dialogues were conducted.

4. Employment Enhancement

1. General Labor Standards

For 2006, a total of 731 business establishments were inspected; 345 were found complying upon inspection, 408 were found to be with violations, 29 were corrected on field benefiting 59 workers in the amount of PhP96,954.75.

2. Technical Safety Standards

A total of 581 establishments with 1,148 units were inspected; 513 of the inspected establishments complied with technical safety standards while 63 had violations. The compliance rate on technical safety standards for the year in review is 82 percent.

• Disposition of Labor Standard Cases

Of the 19 labor standard cases handled, 13 were disposed covering 105 workers awarded with PhP683,636.59.

• Development Programs

The region was able to conduct seven WISE/WISH orientations to a total of 249 participants; six orientation/workshops under the training advisory visits (TAV) participated in by 140 establishments all over the region; and 24 establishments submitted for self-assessment.