MANILA— The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidelines on the implementation of JobStart Philippines, a program aimed at shortening the youth’s school-to-work transition.
This after DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, issued Department Order No. 179 providing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10869 or the JobStart law.
The program aims to assist the school-to-work transition of young Filipino by enhancing the knowledge and skills they acquired through formal education or technical training so that they will be work-ready.
Included in the IRR is the full cycle employment facilitation services such as registration; client assessment; life skills training with one-on-one coaching; technical training; job matching; and referrals to employers either for further technical training, internship or for employment.
Also training modules, the contents of which are subject to review by DOLE in consultation with the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other stakeholders, will be provided.
The Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the primary institution responsible for implementing labor market programs at the local level, is tasked to carry out the program including setting the registration schedules.
To qualify for the program, a JobStart trainee must be a Filipino citizen; 18 to 24 years old, (those who are 17 years old may also register provided that they will be 18 before the technical training stage); have reached at least high school level; and not in education, in employment, or in training (NEET) at the time of the registration.
The DOLE said interested trainees must also have no work experience or have less than one year of accumulated work experience. The 0-12 months of accumulated experience in wage employment includes part-time and full time work in the formal sector.
At-risk youth or those who are from low-income households and beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) will be given priority.
Qualified beneficiaries will receive training allowance based on actual daily attendance to be provided by PESOs with funding support from DOLE.
They will also be further assessed and evaluated by PESO to determine their overall job readiness and whether they should be referred for employment or would require further trainings.
The IRR shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation.