DOLE chief allays fears of gov’t workers on rightsizing plan

Laguesma said DOLE would remain faithful in its mandate to promote the welfare of workers both in the private and public sectors. (File Photo By Judgefloro – Own work, CC0)

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assured state workers they have no reason to be rattled by the government’s rightsizing plan as it may not actually mean downsizing.

The belt-tightening measure being pushed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) also connotes simplifying office procedures, according to DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma in a news release on Sunday.

It can involve transfer of human resources from one office to another to make a system more effective, said Laguesma.

In the private sector where he came from, Laguesma said rightsizing means streamlining of processes and structural reforms.

“When you talk of streamlining, it’s all about making work in a business easier and fruitful. On the other hand, structural reforms imply changes on the way the government works. I don’t see downsizing of workforce in those definitions,” he said.

Laguesma called for calmness among public servants who fear losing their jobs because of the DBM proposal since increasing the number of jobless Filipinos is not the goal of the government.

“Let’s be more positive with rightsizing where the possibility of transferring or even hiring of more people by a government with lots of tasks to perform is very high,” Laguesma added.

Pushed by the DBM last week, the rightsizing proposal triggered speculations of massive retrenchment among government workers, immediately drawing the ire of labor groups.

Laguesma said DOLE would remain faithful in its mandate to promote the welfare of workers both in the private and public sectors.

“Whatever happens, DOLE would always champion the security and safety of our workers, whether they are government servants or employees of private institutions,” Laguesma said. (PR)