I.
Summary
The government is committed to provide decent and productive
employment to the Filipinos. Decent and productive
employment means that adequate income is generated, rights
at work are protected, social protection is provided, and
participation in the democratic process is guaranteed.
For the past years, the labor sector performance slightly
improved with the increasing employment rate and declining
unemployment rate. However, towards the end of 2008 the
labor market was faced with the challenges of the global
financial crisis. Some export-oriented businesses either
stopped or downscaled operations resulting to additional
unemployed persons.
Results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) for the year showed
a minimal decrease in average employment rate from 94.7
percent in 2007 to 94.3 percent in 2008. The average
unemployment rate increased from 5.3 percent to 5.6
percent. Average underemployment rate on the other hand was
pegged at 35.8 percent, 1.3 percent lower than 2007 figure.
Agriculture, fishery and forestry sector remained to have
the highest share of employed person at 45 percent. This was
followed by the services sector (43%) and industry sector
(12%).
II.
Assessment
Labor policies were guided by the principles of providing
decent and productive employment. The Department of Labor
(DOLE) pursued four major employment-promoting strategies as
indicated in the Updated Regional Development Plan
2008-2010. These were: (1) employment generation for the
marginalized groups; (2) employment facilitation; (3)
employment preservation; and (4) employment enhancement.
Employment
Generation
Employment generation involved the direct or indirect
creation employment opportunities in the domestic labor
market. The government issued administrative guidelines and
proposed legislative amendments to the Labor Code to
recognize flexible work arrangements (e.g., subcontracting,
flexi-work, flexi-wage) especially in business process
outsourcing and cooperatives.
The
“PGMA-Handog ng Pangulo” and “Sa Tekbok may Hanapbuhay Ka
Project” were implemented with 1,455 beneficiaries under the
“Galing Mekaniko Ako”, “Galing Masahista Ako”, hairdressing
and other livelihood programs in the region. The project is
a value adding approach through integration of competency on
entrepreneurship and providing seed capital for basic tools,
supplies and materials for self-employment.
Thirty-five companies/enterprises participated in the
Kasanayan sa Hanapbuhay training. Fifty-eight of the 614
apprentices were absorbed.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
through the PGMA Scholarship Programs, provided employment
to 1,505 deserving students, out-of-work and out-of-school
youths. The PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP) scheme
continued to expand with 2,478 beneficiaries for SY
2007-2008. This program provided opportunities to acquire
skills and competencies through training, expanded
apprenticeship and learnership programs.
Employment
Facilitation
Employment facilitation involved providing access to
Filipino workers for employment opportunities and
alternatives, locally or abroad. Overseas employment
remained to be the legitimate option for the country’s
workforce. Thus, the government continued to improve
policies and procedures on overseas employment.
About 25 thousand job applicants registered through the
Public Employment Service Office (PESO) under the Job Search
Assistance Program. Fifty percent of them were placed for
employment. The low level of employment from the number of
registrants reflected the mismatch in the skills of workers
and available job opportunities. Continuous training to
upgrade and enhance the potentials of Bicolano workers
should therefore be addressed.
There was improvement in employment facilitation with the 54
percent growth in the number of job applicants registering
in the Job Search Assistance Program and the 49 percent
increase in those placed for employment.
The Labor Market Information (LMI) Program provided labor
market information to 24,015 individuals and 171
institutions.
Capability building program for partners were also
conducted: seven trainings/orientations for 98 participants
of 76 PESOs; and trainings for Career Guidance Counselors (CGC)
networks and PRPA,/Job/Service-contractors/Sub-contractors.
Employment
Preservation
Employment preservation involved enhancing harmonious
worker-employer relationship and maintaining existing jobs
with remunerative terms and conditions.
Under the Dispute Prevention and Settlement Program,
mediation and voluntary arbitration of 2 cases were disposed
during the year. There were 44 labor standards cases
handled with 59 percent disposition rate or 26 cases
resolved. For small money claims, 244 cases were disposed
(95.31 percent) out of the 256 cases handled.
The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) handled and
disposed 844 labor cases (Table 8.1). A total amount of
P41.385 million pesos was restituted to 241 regular cases.
The Regional Adjudication Board (RAB) and the Sub-RAB in
Naga City restituted USD15,870 and P26,000 respectively for
OFW cases.
|
BEGINNING BALANCE |
|
|
Regular |
336 |
|
OFW |
11 |
|
Total |
347 |
|
Cases Received ( 2008) |
|
|
Regular |
587 |
|
OFW |
13 |
|
Remanded/Revived/ |
|
|
Redocketed/Transferred |
64 |
|
Total Cases Received |
664 |
|
Total Cases Handled |
1011 |
|
Regular |
987 |
|
OFW |
24 |
|
Cases Disposed |
|
|
Settled: Regular |
241 |
|
OFW |
3 |
|
Decided: Regular |
416 |
|
OFW |
15 |
|
Other Orders: Dismissed/
Withdrawn |
169 |
|
Total Cases Disposed (Reg+OFW) |
844 |
|
ENDING BALANCE |
167 |
Source: NLRC
Services to safeguard fair and just terms and conditions
of employment were also conducted. Under the Labor
Standards Enforcement Program three approaches were
used: (1) self-assessment; (2) inspection; and (3)
technical advisory visits (TAV). A total of 13
establishments were assessed on the compliance to labor
standards with 979 workers covered. Of the
establishments assessed, 1 was found to have
violations/deficiencies with 220 workers affected. On
Inspection approach, 221 establishments were inspected
with 4,683 total employment. Forty (40) establishments
were found to have violations. A total of 26
establishments with violations were corrected at plant
level benefiting 129 workers. Wage orders were also
issued in 2008 granting P10-20 per day wage increase to
daily wage earners in Bicol.
Employment
Enhancement
Employment enhancement involved improving workers’
competency, productivity and work values, work
conditions and occupational safety and health,
remuneration, and welfare.
Under the Capability-Building Program for Livelihood
Enhancement, workers were provided with livelihood
assistance/services to enhance their existing
self-employment undertakings. Five trainings were
conducted with 108 participants. A total of 601 workers
were provided with livelihood assistance amounting to
P2,322,036. For livelihood formation, 632 workers were
provided with livelihood assistance for self-employment
amounting to P4,906,719. Labor unions were also provided
with livelihood assistance/services for collective
enterprise development to augment their income. Twelve
labor unions were provided services covering 1,524
workers.
Efforts in providing social protection to working
children, women, landless rural workers, informal sector
workers, and OFWs including their families or dependents
were intensified. There were 2,058 workers in the
informal economy who were enrolled to social security
schemes. A total of 42 workers also benefited under the
Family Welfare Program (FWP). The DOLE conducted 142
work environment assessments to ensure safe and healthy
workforce.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
created 10 new OFW Family Circles (OFCs) in addition to
the existing 19 OFCs regionwide. These OFCs served as
focal groups/links in the dissemination and
implementation of various OWWA programs and services. An
OWWA Help Desk in all DOLE Provincial Office throughout
the region were also established in October 2008
reaching and serving more OFWs and their families who
have various constraints in reporting to OWWA regional
office.
III.
Prospects and Trends for 2009
In the face of global financial turmoil, the government
intends to ease up the impact of the economic downturn
through measures aimed at stimulating positive performance
in all sectors of society. The formulation of the Economic
Resiliency Plan (ERP) with a proposed budget of P330 billion
is designed to save and create as many jobs as possible, and
to protect the most vulnerable sectors including the poorest
of the poor, the returning OFWs and workers in the export
industries.
One of its components is the comprehensive livelihood and
emergency employment program (CLEEP). It aims to create
emergency employment, and fund and supervise livelihood
projects. Under this program, the livelihood and public
works projects will be aligned with the respective
priorities of the Super Regions, and the needs of the 12
poorest provinces and the most food-poor areas.
The DOLE will focus on providing livelihood assistance to
agri-based industries. Special programs are lined up for
2009 on the intensification of agri-based livelihood
programs. Each province shall identify specific
programs/products to be developed. It will also prepare an
action agenda for overseas employment sector and line up
possible on site interventions and in-country services for
returning OFWs.
Administrative Order 203 shall be implemented through
project “Diskwento” which mandates the provision of non-wage
benefits to employees and their families as income
extenders. The DTI-NCR and DOLE, through the National Wages
and Productivity Commission shall launch the project to ease
the burden of high and rising prices of basic consumer
products on employees’ purchasing power.
