P150,000 cash prize dangled to MSMEs in 'Productivity Olympics', but what is it all about?

The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and its Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have officially opened the call for entries to the 2021 Productivity Olympics in the new normal.

But what are the "Productivity Olympics" exactly?

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) says it is the national competition of the best practices on survival and resilience in the new normal of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III emphasized the role of business continuity plans and productivity improvement programs in the economic resilience of the country. He also encouraged MSMEs to participate in the search.

“These are the best practices that the 2021 Productivity Olympics will look for in selecting the national winners. It will recognize MSMEs that were able to continue business operations, kept their employees engaged and committed to their business goals, and preserved employment amid the pandemic,” Bello said.

NWPC Executive Director Maria Criselda Sy presented during a recent virtual press briefing the mechanics and criteria of this year’s Productivity Olympics and echoed the secretary’s invitation for MSMEs to participate in the event.

She said the contest is open for all MSMEs duly registered with appropriate government agencies and have been in operation for at least the last six months in 2020. MSMEs must also be compliant to labor and occupational safety and health standards as well as with safety and health protocols to prevent (coronavirus disease) COVID-19 infection and transmission.

MSMEs will be screened by the regional and national screening committees. The national finalists selected by the national screening committees will be endorsed to the national judging panel who will select this year’s batch of national winners.

A total of nine businesses will be named Productivity Olympics national winners from the nine categories – micro, small, and medium enterprises for agribusiness, service, and industry sectors.

They will each receive a cash award of P150,000, a Productivity Olympics trophy, and priority endorsement to other training programs and service of the NWPC, RTWPBs, and other DOLE agencies.

Interested MSMEs may join through the RTWPB that has jurisdiction over the place where they are located.

Additional information about the 2021 Productivity Olympics may be acquired at www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph and Facebook page of the National Wages and Productivity Commission.