More jobs available in coming months – DOLE

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor of Employment (DOLE) sees more jobs for the youth and other jobseekers in the remaining months of the year due to the coming holiday season.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said various industries are expected to hire more workers starting this month as commercial establishments nationwide prepare for the Christmas season.

Baldoz said manufacturing, retail and even construction companies are likely to hire additional workers.

“There are many people who want to stay in new homes, so we expect more hiring in constructions,” she explained.

Baldoz said students who will be spending Christmas vacation can also work temporarily in various business firms and government offices as provided under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES).

Under the SPES law, poor but deserving students aged 15 years to 25 years may be employed during Christmas vacations in business establishments and government offices nationwide.

Employers will pay 60 percent of the students’ minimum wage while the government would shoulder the remaining 40 percent. They are also entitled to other benefits and privileges under the Labor Code.

The SPES Law was passed to encourage employers engaged in small and medium enterprises to hire poor but deserving students with the hope of providing more students the opportunities to earn during school vacations.

Baldoz said they expect the unemployment rate to drop in the last quarter of the year with the on-going implementation of various job generation programs.

Results of the latest National Statistics Office (NSO) Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed an increased in the number of jobless people in the country.

But Baldoz expressed confidence that the employment situation in the country will get better as the economy continues to grow. –Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)