Improving Public Employment Services in the Philippines

In a significant stride towards improving public employment services, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the Philippines, in collaboration with the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) and Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is embarking on a transformative journey. This collaboration aims to equip the DOLE and its 1,592 Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) with advanced capacities and best practices to enhance service delivery.

Key Meeting Highlights

On February 6, 2025, a preliminary meeting was held at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila. The meeting brought together key representatives from the DOLE, WAPES, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Leading the DOLE delegation was Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, who emphasized the importance of this collaborative endeavor. Secretary Laguesma stated, “The opportunity to discuss this collaborative endeavor among DOLE, WAPES, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is very important for the Philippines. I look forward to a successful undertaking that will not only strengthen our partnership but also significantly enhance the delivery of our employment services.”

Strategic Alignment with Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan

Employment and Human Resource Development Cluster Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres highlighted the project's timely alignment with the government’s commitment under the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan, the nation’s employment masterplan. Undersecretary Torres remarked, “We are truly grateful for our partners’ participation in the Japan-WAPES Joint Project. This collaboration is a testament to our continuous efforts to improve employment facilitation, and we anticipate that it will open the door to meaningful discussions on strategic alignment, best practices, and innovative approaches.”

Achievements and Future Plans

The importance of robust public employment services was underscored during President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation Address last year, where the contribution of PESOs to enhanced labor-industry coordination was recognized, leading to a 98 percent job placement success rate in 2024. Notable achievements from the previous year included the registration of 3 million job seekers, the solicitation of 5.7 million vacancies, the placement of 2.7 million job seekers in local and overseas positions, and the training of 32,000 job seekers nationwide.

Looking ahead, a high-level meeting is scheduled to take place in Japan next month to further discuss the project’s details. The agenda will focus on DOLE’s Five-Point PESO Agenda, which covers the institutionalization of PESOs, personnel capacity development, delivery of core public employment service functions, strengthening linkages among government, industry, and educational institutions, and accelerating digital transformation.

Conclusion

The collaboration between the DOLE, WAPES, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare marks a significant step towards enhancing public employment services in the Philippines. With continued efforts and strategic alignment, the Philippines is poised to achieve even greater success in employment facilitation, ultimately benefiting job seekers and employers alike.

For additional information, please contact the DOLE-Information and Publication Service at [email protected] and 8527-3000 local 623.

Reference: Enhancing Public Employment Services: DOLE Collaborates with WAPES and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on Joint Project for the Philippines