Upskilling of workers a priority in the Philippines

The Philippines’ Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) will be working together with other agencies to further upskill the country’s workers. 

“With the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority reverted to the fold of the Department of Labour and Employment, we will concentrate vigorously in coordination with the other departments to upskill workers, to answer and respond to the needs and requirements of emerging and growth industries,” said Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, according to Philippine News Agency. 

So far, DOLE has identified manufacturing, services, agriculture, tourism, construction, information technology, and business process outsourcing as growth industries, based on labour market studies. 

“We would like our initiatives to focus also on what we call the special programme for the employment of students, as well as hone the skills of our youth and prepare them for better work arrangements,” he added.

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The government also intends to address the jobs mismatch issue and boost job creation within the country. This is part of the government’s plan to reduce poverty within the country, said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo, reports ABS-CBN News.