Among the government departments in the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment is perhaps one of the most laborious to manage due to its purpose and functions. It is a government agency responsible for formulating and implementing policies, programs, and services related to labor, employment, and human resources development. The department also regulates employment and labor condition in order to protect the rights of every worker in the country.
The primary goal of DOLE is to promote gainful employment opportunities, ensure workers’ rights and welfare, and maintain harmonious employer-employee relationships. Some of its functions include regulation of employment practices, worker protection, promotion of social dialogue, and capacity building for both workers and employers.
The President has the power to appoint the Secretary of Labor and Employment to serve as the head of the DOLE. It employs workers in field offices and main offices across the Philippines to help employees get the assistance they need. There are over 40 million workers that the DOLE assists from the public and commercial sectors.
In this guide, you will learn about the main functions, programs, and benefits of the Department of Labor and Employment. There are a lot of helpful tips to make sure you benefit from the services of DOLE as an employee, whether from a private company or government organization.
What is DOLE?
Originally founded in 1908 as a modest bureau, the Department of Labor and Employment underwent a significant transformation into a full-fledged department following the enactment of Act 4121 on December 8, 1933.
Today, DOLE stands as the primary authority within the government’s executive branch, carrying out essential functions in labor and employment. It assumes a pivotal role in policy-making, program development, coordination, and administration. The department is dedicated to promoting the creation of meaningful job opportunities and maximizing the utilization of the nation’s workforce.
It upholds the welfare of workers by advocating for just and humane working conditions and employment terms. Additionally, the department plays a big role in fostering a workplace where employees can enjoy harmony, fairness, and stability. It also facilitates employment relationships, ensuring equal protection of rights for all parties involved while promoting peace in the labor sector.
Key Functions of DOLE
The following are the key functions of DOLE:
- Protecting the rights of Filipino workers.
- Regulating employment and labor conditions.
- Promoting the economic and social well-being of employees.
- Providing employment services.
- Conducting research to develop new labor policies.
- Enforcing work regulations and laws.
- Developing health and occupational safety standards.
- Administering salary and wage guidelines.
The vision of DOLE is to provide better employment for Filipino workers that is productive and decent. On the other hand, this government agency’s mission is to create more employment opportunities in the nearest future while protecting the workers including OFWs abroad.
Responsibilities
Below are the responsibilities of DOLE:
- Address the concerns of OFWs who have issues with their employers.
- Monitor and report political, labor, and economic situations as well as policy developments in other countries that can affect the Philippine labor laws and Filipino migrant workers.
- Organize a development program to support communities across the government, Filipino organizations, host country, and socio-cultural entities.
- Implement employment programs abroad based on the general policy objectives of the Philippine government.
- Perform all duties and responsibilities according to the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
- Check job-related documents including employment contracts and the accreditation of foreign principals.
- Develop and implement reintegration programs.
DOLE is committed to improving the employability of workers and the competitiveness of MSMEs. It provides more accessible and responsive human resource programs to develop and facilitate employment services by efficiently matching job vacancies and skills supply.
Moreover, DOLE’s task of maintaining industrial peace aligns with the objective of enforcing labor standards. It also aims to resolve labor disputes in the fairest and fastest manner in order to enhance labor-management coordination and labor education. To preserve and improve job quality for Filipino workers, DOLE promotes tripartism in decision-making and policy-making processes.
DOLE’s Services and Programs
DOLE holds immense significance for workers in the Philippines. It serves as a key advocate and protector of workers’ rights, ensuring fair and just treatment in the workplace. Its vital role in enforcing labor laws, resolving disputes, and providing support to workers makes DOLE an essential institution for safeguarding the interests and welfare of the Filipino workforce.
When it comes to the services and programs that workers can expect from this government agency, we will mention the most important ones that you should know. Here they are:
Career Guidance Support Program
This advocacy program is designed to promote awareness by supporting employment counseling and career advocacy. It also guides students and youth to choose the course they are good at in order to avoid underemployment and skills mismatch. In addition, career guidance provides the vocational basics that are needed by the labor market.
The career guidance advocacy program covers careers and vocations that are in demand for the coming years. One of the main goals is to offer the latest information when it comes to jobs that can help job seekers and students make sound decisions in the next five years.
Government Internship Programs
This program is developed to provide young employees such as indigent workers with the chance to use their skills and talents for public service. The goal is to find the best young workers who aspire to work in government offices. The ideal candidates are those who are looking to work in disciplines and fields related to employment. Government interns earn 75% of their region’s minimum wage.
Public Employment Service Office
This DOLE program has been created to cost-effectively and timely transmit employment services to job applicants from companies. PESO also serves as a go-to information hub for government agencies in the region’s various services and programs.
The department’s objective encompasses a range of activities including career assistance, counseling services, training sessions, seminars, value development programs, and mass motivation initiatives. PESO offers distinctive services like Job Fairs, a Special Program for the Employment of Students and Out-of-School Youth, and Livelihood and Self-Employment Bazaars, among others.
Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Displaced Workers
TUPAD is a DOLE-inclusive program that is created to provide financial assistance to displaced workers during the pandemic. It also extends support to economically disadvantaged individuals and the underemployed. The program offers a community-based assistance package that includes temporary employment opportunities within 30 days, considering the nature of the given tasks.
The program ensures that one representative from every household can participate. However, individuals who have previously been employed through the TUPAD program are not eligible for future employment within the same program.
Project Angel Tree
Project Angel Tree is an integral component of DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program. It offers a range of social services to child laborers and their families. These services encompass provisions such as food, clothing, school supplies, educational assistance, and even work and training opportunities facilitated by generous sponsors known as “angels”.
The primary aim of the project is to enhance the economic and social conditions of child laborers and their families, while also increasing support for the prevention and eradication of children working at a young age to help their families financially.
National Skills Registration Programs
The National Skills Registry Program serves as the government’s comprehensive online manpower database. It aims to enhance visibility for workers nationwide by encouraging them to register in the Public Employment Information System or PEIS.
By utilizing this system, individuals can easily access a consolidated list of available workers across the country, as well as a directory of businesses with job openings. The PEIS functions as a centralized hub, serving as a clearinghouse of data on skills, licenses, accreditations, and both local and global career prospects.
DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit
The DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit Project is a strategic initiative designed to uplift the socio-economic status of individuals employed in the informal economy, specific sectors, groups, and even displaced wage workers and their families, both locally and internationally. This project aims to provide beneficiaries with a complete livelihood startup package, comprising a range of essential services.
By equipping them with the necessary resources, the project empowers individuals to embark on their own self-employment ventures efficiently. The ultimate objective is to encourage sustainable, long-term self-employment through accessible and practical livelihood opportunities.
Video: DOLE Labor and Employment Education Services
In this video, you will learn a lot from the employment guide particularly the labor standards in the Philippines. If you want to know about the General Labor Laws, the Bureau of Labor Relations, and more, check out this video and watch it until the end. As an online resource for labor and employment in the Philippines, there are other educational videos you can find on this channel.
Summary
If you are a Filipino worker or an employee seeking guidance on employment-related matters, the DOLE labor law serves as a valuable reference. You have the option to reach out to DOLE for help, as it is the department’s duty to formulate policies and implement them in the labor and employment sector. Serving as the policy-making arm of the Executive Branch, DOLE plays a crucial role in addressing labor-related concerns.
Contact Information
DOLE Labor Office located at the Department of Labor and Employment Building, Muralla Wing cor. General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila, 1002, Philippines
Official Website: https://www.dole.gov.ph/
Telephone Number: (02) 8527 8000
Facebook age: https://www.facebook.com/laborandemployment