Program to help youth look for employment

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 yesterday announced that President Benigno Aquino III will launch the “school towards transition program” on May 1 at J Centre Mall in Mandaue City.

Dole 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga said Aquino will be accompanied by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, the Canadian ambassador to the Philippines, and the president of Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“This is a youth employment generation program to fast-tract employment of the youth, which is also called school towards transition wherein we identify the possible beneficiaries and profile them to determine what skills they need to get employed,” Sarcauga said during a press conference.

Sarcauga said the program is aimed at increasing the number of employable and skilled youths from the marginal sector of society.

Under this program, Sarcauga said, the beneficiaries to be chosen from the poor families shall attend three months training which will be subsidized by ADB.

Once the youth-trainees will be on the job training (OJT), the company where they will be assigned will give them salary which is equivalent to 75 percent of the minimum wage pegged at P340 a day based on Wage Order 18 issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7, plus P1,000 each from ADB.

P20T per month

If a company will absorb 20 OJTs, the ADB will give it P20,000 a month.

“We urge businessmen or employers to participate in the program and help the government in increasing the employment rate of the youth,” Sarcauga said.

Sarcauga called a press conference yesterday together with the members of the Regional Management Council (RMC) composed of agencies attached to Dole to announce the various activities during the celebration of labor Day on May 1.

Those who attended the press conference were Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) 7 Director Gina Emperado, Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) Information Officer Ingrid Yumang, National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) 7 Director Edmund Mirasol, RTWPB Board Secretary Grace G. Carreon, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) 7 Director Evelia Durato, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)Presiding Commissioner Violeta Ortiz-Bantug, and labor sector representative Luciano Dichos.

Sarcauga said that on Labor Day, there will be a traditional caravan solidarity run to be participated not only by the workers but by the employers and the government.

The theme for this year’s Labor Day celebration is: “Desenteng Trabaho at Kabuhayan Alay Natin sa Bayan.”