DOLE vows support to private firms pushing to improve workers' skills

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has committed to provide financial assistance to private companies interested in improving workers' competencies and overall transformative skills.

The DOLE's commitment of support was embodied in the Department Order 241, Series of 2024, or the "Implementing Guidelines of the DOLE Adjustment Measures Program (DOLE-AMP) for Workers and Enterprises" issued by Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.

“The objective of the DOLE-AMP is to reduce or mitigate the vulnerability of workers and enterprises to economic disruptions and thereby enhance their capacity for job preservation and generation, improve human resource and enterprise viability and resilience, raise levels of productivity and competitiveness, and actively contribute to the promotion of decent and sustainable work opportunities,” the Department Order stated.

The DOLE-AMP permits a proponent, such as an employer, enterprise, business organization, genuine labor organization, or recognized co-partner, to launch a project.

The application must be signed by the proponent's authorized representative and sent to the DOLE Regional Office, where the project will be conducted.

According to the DOLE, if the project proposal is divided into parts that will be implemented in different regions, the application must be submitted to both the DOLE Regional Office, where the initial or main part of the project will be implemented, and the DOLE Central Office, via the Bureau of Local Employment.

DOLE regional offices where parts of the proposed project will be completed must obtain a copy of the proposal.

The DOLE regional director and the duly authorized representative of the proponent or accredited co-partner will then sign a memorandum of agreement to carry out the approved project.

Before the release of successive tranches, proponents of projects divided into two or more phases must submit a progress and liquidation report based on the work and financial plan, plus verification that it is being implemented on time.