CEBU CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) is now adapting into the new normal of delivering employment facilitation programs and services.
DOLE-7 regional director Salome Siaton said the new normal has been driving the agency to re-engineer procedures in DOLE and at the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) here, as emerging ideas have been introduced to help both institutions to keep up with the fast-changing times.
“One of the things that we are now looking into is the conduct of the virtual job fairs at the local government units through their respective PESOs,” she said.
To recall, DOLE-7 introduced and first launched the virtual Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan (TNK) job fair last December.
“We understand that there are still a lot of issues and concerns at the level of the PESOs insofar as the conduct of the virtual job fair is concerned. However, together, I am confident that we can sort them out as we go along,” she said.
She added the demands of the times pushed the public sector “to graduate from the usual way of doing things and explore something new that can better address the requirements of the new normal”.
Siaton said she appreciated all PESO managers who were actively engaged in the activity, speaking up and raising substantial queries regarding all topics presented.
The government has created a recovery plan for the labor sector in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and other partner-agencies.
Dubbed as NERS or national employment recovery strategy, this initiative includes four components: economic activities with policies and guidelines for the safe reopening of the businesses and the safety of the workers and consumers; restoration of business confidence, consumer protection and a rebooting package for the micro, small and medium enterprises; upgrading of the skills of the workforce through skills training; and labor market access facilitation such as the conduct of job fairs.
Siaton said she is optimistic the PESOs in the region are capable of leveling up and expanding the existing employment facilitation service machinery that they currently have. (PNA)
