DOLE launches call, text, and online hotline service

In celebration of Labor Day on Friday, May 1, 2009, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with Globe Telecom will launch a call, text, and online hotline service for the local workforce and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking immediate information on local and overseas jobs and other relevant updates and services.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the DOLE and Globe will unveil on May 1 the 3-way Asenso Connect service which consists of three communication channels – the DOLE 2917 Hotline, 2910 SMS facility, and the www.dole2917.com.ph website – that workers can access for information on local and overseas vacancies and updates and services being provided by the DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Roque said the three-way communication service with Globe is part of the DOLE’s efforts to facilitate assistance to workers especially those who were affected by the global economic crisis in their search for local or overseas employment or alternative livelihood.

He said the DOLE and its attached agencies, the POEA and OWWA, have already well- placed employment facilitation and livelihood programs that need to be communicated effectively to the workers.

The three-way communication service of Globe would help meet the challenge of communicating the DOLE assistance and services to the workers, Roque said as he thanked Globe for extending its support to DOLE.

Workers may call the DOLE 2917 Hotline to reach DOLE, POEA or OWWA by dialing 2917 from their Globe or TM cellphones, or 908-2917 from their Globe landline phones. All calls from Globe or TM cellphones and Globe Landlines are free of charge nationwide. The service is also open to non-Globe subscribers, who will be charged regular per-minute call rates. Charges applied to caller coming from other network.

Globe subscribers may also text “DOLE HELP” for local jobs and “POEA HELP” for overseas jobs to 2910. They may also text the two agencies to 2910 for questions and comments. Globe subscribers may also register their cell phone numbers in order to receive updates from DOLE on relevant news, job vacancies, holidays, and other updates on services.

Workers may also view a comprehensive list of information regarding the DOLE 2917 service by going to www.dole2917.com.ph. –DOLE, Information and Publication Service