The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is carrying out programs to improve the vulnerable and underserved sectors of the country in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said on Wednesday.
“Kaya madiin ang direktiba ng ating Pangulo doon sa kaniyang pananaw na dapat tayo ay maging inclusive sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na iyong mga tinatawag natin na vulnerable at saka underserved,” Laguesma said during the episode of Malacañang Insider.
“At ito rin iyong layunin nung nilagdaan ng ating Pangulo na batas, Trabaho para sa Bayan Act na kung saan talaga ang direksyon ay tulungan ang mga MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), gawing globally competitive ang ating Filipino workforce, at iyong productivity level natin ay mapaangat din,” he said.
Through DOLE’s Adjustment Measure Program, the government has been providing technical assistance and guidance to MSMEs through training on bookkeeping, adjustment, and accounting for the effective management of MSME operation, Laguesma said.
Based on the current government data, MSMEs comprised 95 to 99 percent of existing businesses in the country.
“So iyan iyong Adjustment Measure Program. At tumatanaw kami doon sa, ika nga ay sumusunod o tumatalima kami doon sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo na tulungan natin ang mga MSMEs ‘no kasi ito talaga iyong …malaking bulto ng ating employment, nanggagaling diyan,” Laguesma pointed out.
According to the labor chief, the workers’ productivity must respond to the challenges in the labor sector for them to reap the additional benefits.
Laguesma also enumerated DOLE’s efforts to protect the vulnerable and underserved sector, or the informal sector composed of workers residing in lower class municipalities.
A provision under the 2024 General Appropriations Act mandates that DOLE, in cooperation with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), must carry out programs to improve the living condition of the people in poor communities.
“Kasama diyan iyong mga programa ng DOLE hindi lamang para doon sa manggagawa, kasama rin para sa mga dependents at iyong mga anak nila na nag-aaral. Kasi dapat ang mga kabataan, ang mga bata ay nasa eskuwelahan hindi nagtatrabaho sa bukirin man o saan mang klase ng trabaho,” Laguesma explained.
“At iyan pa ang isang tinututukan ng Department of Labor and Employment sa tulong ng mga ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan iyon pong pag-aalis o elimination ng tinatawag natin na child labor,” he stated. PND
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