DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Bureau of Local Employment LABOR MARKET TRENDS M AY 2021 With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering in the labor market and the economy fighting its way out of recession, all government efforts are concentrated towards recovery. This issue of the Labor Market Trends will focus on one of the activities of the Task Group on Economic Recovery (TGER) and the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force to complement government recovery programs and policies with proposals from other stakeholders through the Job Summit. Job Summit: A Whole-of-Society Approach Towards Employment Recovery LABORMARKETTRENDS M AY/ 2 0 2 1 Part of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Four-Pillar Policy THE ROAD Recommendation, which the NERS has also adopted, is trusting social TO THE JOB dialogue for innovative solutions. It highlights social dialogue as a “tried-and-tested means of ensuring that crisis response is equitable, effective, SUMMIT and takes account of the capacity and needs of all those directly involved”. With this, the Job Summit was organized by the dealing with the pandemic, what are their NERS Task Force, with the support of the Asian preparations as the government safely re-opens the Development Bank (ADB), ILO, and the World economy, and what can the government do to Bank (WB), to serve as a venue for high-level support them. The series of activities was done in consultation and discussion with employer groups, the month of April where the NERS Task Force labor sector, government representatives, and other member agencies hosted several Focus Group key stakeholders to address the employment Discussions (FGDs). Participants from different problems in the country brought about by the sectors and industries had the opportunity to share COVID-19 pandemic. their insights and recommendations on how the government should move forward to help them cope The Job Summit was comprised of a series of social and recover in this national crisis. They have dialogue activities that demonstrated the discussed the issues and challenges for their “whole-of-society” approach in dealing with the respective sectors and conferred to what policy and pandemic by involving both the labor and business recommendations are appropriate for these sectors in identifying priority concerns to address concerns. employment problems; informing them on actions taken by the Government towards recovery from the All these inputs were validated during the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts; and Pre-Summit Dialogues, and presented as the “Labor providing an avenue to discuss areas of cooperation Sector Agenda towards Employment Recovery” and and collaboration. “Business Sector Agenda towards Employment Recovery” during the Job Summit proper which is This social dialogue process gathered sectoral part of the Labor Day celebration for 01 May 2021. perspectives on how industries and workers are SECTORAL FGDS WITH Sa NERS, lilikha THE LABOR SECTOR tayo ng mga bagong pag- kakataon sa Gearing Up Towards hanapbuhay at trabaho ngayong A Future-Ready may pandemya at sa darating na Workforce mga taon. Eight (8) Sectoral FGDs for Committee members, as follows: Workers were hosted by the DOLE Bureau of Local Employment, in partnership with the Bureau of Labor Relations, International Labour Organization. Institute for Labor Studies, Bureau Said FGDs invited representatives of Workers with Special Concerns, from the formal (including International Labor Affairs Bureau, education sector), informal, Overseas Workers Welfare migrant, and women, youth, and Administration, and the Philippine Sec. Karlo Nograles platform workers. Each sector was Overseas Employment CABINET SECRETARY OPENING REMARKS moderated by DOLE NERS Administration, and the Planning TGER-NERS JOB SUMMIT, 1 MAY 2021 2 Job Summit: A Whole-of-Society Approach Towards Employment Recovery Among the key recommendations made by the • Employment and economic recovery and Service. The ILO also supported Among the key sectors include: development efforts (i.e. wage subsidy, incentives, the conduct of these FGDs. recommendations made by the etc). NERS rallied various sectors include: • Faster implementation of vaccine rollouts The discussions centered on the government agencies, business and labor (including prioritization of fronliners/workers and As a precursor to the Pre-Summit Dialogues, the impacts of pandemic particularly • Social dialogue mechanisms in groups, civil society, and procurement of vaccines for private sector); NERS Task Force considered these sectoral government institutions; on the different facets of work International development • Efficient pandemic management and community dialogues as an avenue towards the development of such as labor rights, standards, • Provision of income support partners—delivering quarantine; an inclusive Labor and Business Sector Agenda on and relations. Further, the and wage subsidy; much-needed unity and • Lower demand and sales; cash liquidity constraints; decent employment and entrepreneurship wherein pandemic highlighted the • Guarantee and protect workers’ cooperation, and • Assistance on the businesses’ shift to digitalization; the various sectors were genuinely heard. Said changes on work-life balance rights; multi-sectoral • Updating of education and training curricula to dialogues provided a platform for them to provide given that this experience was • Clear and consistent collaboration towards a address education and training mismatch; inputs and guidance on the refinement of the Task quite new for everyone. The COVID-19 response; safe recovery, where • Intensified implementation of the Ease of Doing Force’s objectives in achieving a shared goal and an businesses thrive and, FGDs also focused on how the • Provide paid trainings and Business (EODB); and integrated government response to this crisis. government has supported the promote skills relevant in the much more so, where no Filipino worker is left labor sector through their digital economy; behind. challenges and the • Review of policies on flexible representatives’ suggestions on work arrangements; how the government could • Implementation of a work further respond to best suit their guarantee program; and needs. • Intensified referral and placement for employment. Sec. Isidro S. Lapeña LABOR MARKET TESDA SECTORAL FGDS WITH NERS CO-CHAIRPERSON TRENDS TGER-NERS JOB SUMMIT 1 MAY 2021 MAY 2021 ISSUE THE BUSINESS SECTOR Job Summit: A Whole-of-Society Approach Towards Safe Re-opening Towards Employment Recovery Recovering, Preserving, and EDITORIAL BOARD Asec. Dominique Rubia-Tutay Grace Baldoza Creating More Employment John Christopher Lapiz Ten (10) Business Sector FGDs were Department of Education, Commission TEXT & LAYOUT spearheaded by the members of the on Higher Education, Technical Lor Alfonso NERS Task Force in coordination with Education and Skills Development Jill Borjal Camille Estanislao the Department of Trade and Industry. Authority, Department of Agriculture, John Christopher Lapiz Participating industries came from the and Department of Agrarian Reform. Jehoverey Porciuncula Tourism, Wholesale and Retail, These FGDs were supported by the Nick Romano Manufacturing, Banking and Finance, Asian Development Bank and the World Department of Labor Construction, IT-BPM, Health and Bank. and Employment Bureau of Local Wellness, Transport and Logistics, Employment Education, and Agriculture Sectors. The discussions centered on the impacts of the pandemic on the different aspects 6F First Intramuros BF Condominium, Among the agencies that hosted these of business, how the pandemic affected Solana St. cor. A. Soriano Ave., FGDs include: the Department of their cost of operations, sales and Intramuros, Manila Tourism, Department of Trade and revenue, and employment contribution. (02) 8528-0087 Industry, Department of Finance, Furthermore, they expounded on how Bangko Sental ng Pilipinas, Department the government has encouraged them to ble.dole.gov.ph facebook.com/BLEinfo of Information and Communications sustain operations and in other cases, Technology, Department of Health, re-open without suffering drawbacks May 2021 Department of Transportation, and generate a decent profit. 3 LABORMARKETTRENDS M AY/ 2 0 2 1 Among the key recommendations made by the • Employment and economic recovery and sectors include: development efforts (i.e. wage subsidy, incentives, etc). • Faster implementation of vaccine rollouts (including prioritization of fronliners/workers and As a precursor to the Pre-Summit Dialogues, the procurement of vaccines for private sector); NERS Task Force considered these sectoral • Efficient pandemic management and community dialogues as an avenue towards the development of quarantine; an inclusive Labor and Business Sector Agenda on • Lower demand and sales; cash liquidity constraints; decent employment and entrepreneurship wherein • Assistance on the businesses’ shift to digitalization; the various sectors were genuinely heard. Said • Updating of education and training curricula to dialogues provided a platform for them to provide address education and training mismatch; inputs and guidance on the refinement of the Task • Intensified implementation of the Ease of Doing Force’s objectives in achieving a shared goal and an Business (EODB); and integrated government response to this crisis. The Pre-Summit Dialogues served as avenues for presentation and PRE-SUMMIT discussion of the consolidated issues, concerns, and policy and