In Bataan, Nego-Kart project Good News/DGN March 2013.pdf · DOLE Good News March 2013 A t 18, cousins Aiza and Ronald Niñofranco already mirrored the faces of child labor in Aklan.

While businesses coped with the looming threats of the global financial crisis and the demanding challenges of globalization,

the nation’s informal economy remained sturdy and unyielding. Such display of resiliency amidst tribulation can be largely attributed to the informal sector (IS) workers’ resolute attitude which has helped the country survive numerous financial strains in the past.

Indigent yet resilient, the glut of informal sector (IS) workers in the streets has been the silent majority recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) through the Negosyo sa Kariton, or Nego-Kart Project.

Through its regional and field offices and collaboration with its accredited co-partners, the DOLE has been implementing the Nego-Kart Project not only to assist the unemployed, but also to improve and change the lives of many hard-working, but low-income vendors across the country.

For Juliet Abad, a 38-year-old mother of two from Mariveles Bataan, the Nego-Kart Project has been her ticket not only to a better life, but also to the road towards women empowerment.

A former factory worker with her husband, Richard, Juliet knew that their daily income, which is below the minimum wage, cannot sustain their family’s daily subsistence.

What was even more threatening for Juliet was the precarious working condition they endured at the factory just to earn a penny.

“Dati, ang sahod namin ng mister ko bilang factory worker ay hindi talaga sapat para sa aming pamilya. Kulang na kulang talaga ang kinikita namin para sa mga gastusin sa bahay tulad ng mga bilihin para sa amin at ng mga bata, pambayad ng renta sa bahay at kuryente. Ang nakakatakot pa ay yung uri ng aming trabaho dahil exposed po kami sa mga sari-saring kemikal sa factory,” Juliet recalled.

Plying to a better and safer trade, Juliet and Richard treaded the bustling streets of Barangay Laya in Mariveles as they started their small ‘street food’ vending business. Juliet peddled from sunrise till dawn just to meet their family’s needs and continuously send their children to school.

Recognizing and rewarding Juliet’s hard work, DOLE and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) selected her as one of the lucky recipients of the DOLE’s Nego-Kart Project in Bataan.

Juliet received from the DOLE Bataan Field Office a newly furbished vending cart with working capital and livelihood tools amounting to P15,000.

Meanwhile, the local government provided its 25 percent counterpart assistance to Juliet and other NegoKart beneficiaries in the form of various capability building and skills trainings relative to their choice of business.

The LGU of Bataan shall also shoulder the initial payments of social benefits of the beneficiaries which include their social security system (SSS), Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth.

“Napakalaking bagay po na mapili ako sa dami ng mga street vendors dito sa Mariveles. Isang biyaya na po na ako po ay naging kabilang sa mga qualified beneficiaries ng DOLE Nego-Kart Project,” Juliet shared.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz hailed the efforts of DOLE Regional Office No. 3 and its Field Offices in continuously facilitating the provision of livelihood packages, saying that “the DOLE is giving equal entrepreneurial opportunities to a wide range of beneficiaries, including women workers.”

“As we celebrate Women’s month, it is right to recognize the stories of inspiring women workers who believed that they can be sufficient through self-employment. Our assistance is not a dole-out but a means of giving them a sense of dignity to be capacitated on entrepreneurial activities,” Baldoz said.

In Bataan, Nego-Kart project turns former factory worker into an empowered woman entrepreneur

Turn to page 8

PROUD NEGO-KART OWNERS. Juliet and Richard share smiles of empowerment as they peddle their food cart in the streets of Bataan.

DOLE Good News

The DOLE Good News is published by the Department of Labor and Employment, with editorial office at the Labor Communications Office, 6th Floor, DOLE Building, Intramuros, Manila. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and/or their sources and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOLE’s or the Philippine Government’s.

Readers’ queries, comments, and suggestions are welcome. Mail or fax them in, or call us at telephone numbers 527-3000 loc. 621. Our fax number is 527-3446. You may also visit our website: www.dole.gov.ph; or e-mail us at [email protected] or [email protected].

EditorNICON F. FAMERONAG

Director, LCO

Associate EditorKAREN R. SERRANO

Staff WritersJOSE C. DE LEON

MARK JAIME L. CERDENIAMA. VERONICA R. ALMAZORA

CELESTE T. MARINGHAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY

REVELITA F. LAXINA

Editorial AssistantsGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCEMADELYN D. DOMETITA

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

ALDRIN L. APOLONIO - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ANDREA JOY AGUTAYA - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

EMMANUEL Y. FERRER - Region 7

VIRGILIO A. DOROJA, JR. - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

JOCELYN C. FLORDELIS - Region 11

CHARMAINE DAWN L. SONSONA - Region 12

FRANCIS Y. NAZARIO - Caraga

� March 2013

The DOLE’s early and consistent campaign urging companies to voluntarily comply with core

labor standards, such as the payment of the 13th month pay on or before December 24 of each year, seem to be bearing fruit if complaints to the DOLE call center are to be gauged.

This is the statement of Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz as she reported the decreasing number of 13th month pay queries made before the DOLE call center.

“In December 2012, the call center received 1,317 queries related to 13th month pay. But as we intensively advocated for the rightful release of the employees’ 13th month pay, the queries dwindled down to 253 when January 2013 came,” Baldoz said.

The same trend was recorded in December 2011 when 13th month pay-related calls was 815, while the January 2012 calls tallied at only 220.

Last year, the DOLE invigorated a nationwide public

DOLE call center reports fewer 13th month payment complaintsinformation campaign urging employers to comply with core labor standards, reminding and warning them of their obligation to pay the mandatory holiday pay especially Christmas holidays.

“As we encourage companies to voluntarily comply with core labor standards through our “no compromise” policy on compliance, more workers have been vigilant with their rights under the core labor standards, particularly holiday payment as mandated by law,” Baldoz said.

Established in 2005, the DOLE Call Center was placed directly under the supervision of the Labor Communications Office, the public communications arm of the Department, to serve as the DOLE’s feedback mechanism in gauging the

public’s pulse on its programs and service deliveries.

As one of the DOLE’s frontline services, the DOLE call center strictly values feedback, one of the strategies in the sustaining outcomes identified under the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016 calling for institutional reforms toward transparency, accountability, and respect for law.

The DOLE call center determines client satisfaction by asking callers if they are satisfied with the responses of DOLE call center personnel, consistent with the Secretary’s directive to DOLE officials and employees to ensure efficient and effective client services delivery.

(The DOLE Call Center, which operates on its philosophy S.M.I.L.E. (Serbisyong Magalang, Mahusay na Impormasyon sa Labor at Employment),

operates from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Monday to Saturday. Its hotline

number is 527-8000.)

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? As one of the DOLE’s frontline services, the DOLE call center strictly values feedback, one of the strategies in the sustaining outcomes identified under the Labor and Employment Plan 2011-2016.

DOLE Good News

�March 2013

At 18, cousins Aiza and Ronald Niñofranco already mirrored the faces of child labor in

Aklan. Hailing from the small barangay of Mamba in Madalag, they have no other choice but to face the inevitable truth of sacrificing the perks of a jovial youth as they entered the world of work at an early age.

Ronald, the second of four children, dropped out of school to help earn for the family and joined the group of sacada workers in going to Negros Occidental during the start of the milling season in 2011. He was then 17 years old and had just finished his first year in high school.

Sharing the same fate, Aiza is the eldest of three children. Her father is also a sacada worker. After her high school graduation in 2011, she already worked as house help in the municipalities of Malinao and Tangalan at the age of 16.

With her strong adage in education as her key to a better life, Aiza graduated valedictorian in high school. Her desire to continue her college education is so great that she never ceases dreaming of having a career one day. She knew that her father’s meager income could hardly support the family needs.

“Life did not give us much choice, but we could not complain. All we could do is help ourselves and our family,” Aiza said.

A twist of fate dramatically changed Aiza and Ronald’s lives when they were chosen by the local government of Madalag as beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Child Labor-Free Barangay Campaign in Aklan last October 2012.

In 2012, the DOLE, through its regional offices, reached 89 barangays and benefited 4,863 child laborers and 1,849 parents with various converged programs and services with its community-based Child Labor-Free Barangay Campaign which cascaded the government’s action to minimize, if not end, child labor in the country.

“The DOLE’s child labor-free barangay campaign sets the tone for child laborers and their parents in the target barangays to take the first step towards self-transformation and empowerment through education or other interventions,” Baldoz said.

“At the barangay level, we are implementing measures to prevent and eliminate child labor with the full support of the community and its leaders,” she added.

Ronald grabbed the opportunity. The night before the campaign, he prepared a letter addressed to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis- Baldoz requesting assistance that he may be removed from his sacada work.

During the campaign in Aklan, Baldoz, through DOLE Regional Office No. 6 Director Ponciano Ligutom, granted Ronald’s wish and assisted him in pursuing any technical-vocational course under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Under the Special Program for Employment of Students - Training for Work Scholarship Program (SPES-TWSP) Ronald and Aiza both received scholarships which supported their schooling at Panay Technological

College in Kalibo, Aklan. After two and a half months,

they successfully passed the TESDA assessment and finally

received their National Certificate II (NC II) in Housekeeping last 09 February 2013.

Luck continues to knock on their doors as the cousins both found jobs at Boracay Regency Resort and Convention Center, one of the premier resorts in Boracay Island, Aklan. They already began their training on 10 March as housekeeping staff.

No words could express Aiza and Ronald’s gratefulness to the government, especially to the DOLE, for the unexpected blessing. Their strong adage for a better life continues as they now reflect the faces of educated and empowered youth.

“I was very happy then. I never thought that kind of opportunity will come my way. I was already contented with the kind of life that I had, but I could not keep myself from dreaming that one day I could go back to school; that was the opportunity that I waited for,” Ronald shared.

Former child laborers shun sacada work, welcome hotel job

DECENT JOBS, BETTER LIVES. SPES-TWSP scholars Ronald (top) and Aiza (left) have bid goodbye to their former sacada work as they welcome their new housekeeping jobs at Boracay Regency Resort and Convention Center in Aklan.

DOLE Good News

� March 2013

NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo has reported that the entire country

was strike-free for the first three months of 2013.

In his report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Director Ubaldo said that it was the second year in a row that no strike occurred during the first quarter.

“We did this through the provision of timely, efficient, and effective conciliation-mediation services to parties involved in potential or brewing labor disputes,” he said.

“Our time-tested strategies of 24/7 conciliation and team/buddy conciliation have been effective in diffusing tensions between labor and management, preventing what could have been debilitating strikes in many companies,” Ubaldo said further.

Team conciliation and 24/7 scheme in attending to conciliation-mediation cases are being implemented by the NCMB to effectively manage labor disputes and minimize, if not prevent losses to the workers, to the company, and to the economy.

1st Quarter 2013: industrial peace situation remains peaceful and stable

Under the 24/7 scheme, conciliator-mediators are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure quick response to clients’ requests for assistance and to make sure that labor disputes are attended to, with the purpose of bringing about early and amicable settlement.

Team, or buddy, conciliation is a scheme or strategy anchored on the principle “Two heads are better than one”. It involves partnering of two to three conciliators whose combined efforts and expertise are expected to facilitate settlement of critical and difficult cases.

“Threats of a strike also declined considerably, as notices of strike filed by unions continue to follow a downward trend,” Director Ubaldo disclosed further.

He said that NCMB regional branches received 36 notices of strike during the quarter, 14% fewer than the 42 cases docketed during the same period last year.

There is a slight increase in workers involved in new notices of strike, though, hinting that bigger companies are the targets of fresh strike threats.

Some 5,334 workers are involved in the 36 NS cases received during the first quarter of 2013, 2% more than the 5,230 workers involved in the 42 cases docketed in similar period in 2012.

Independent unions account for close to half – 17 cases or 47% – of the 36 new notices filed during the quarter. Others were filed by affiliated unions and federations.

In 2012, all the three strikes were declared by unions allied with NAFLU-KMU. Of the 33 notices of strike pending as of 31 March 2013, ten cases were filed by unions allied with either KMU or NAFLU.

“We continue to exert efforts to maintain the current state of labor relations in the country, so disruptions in the industrial front do not get in the way of the administration’s efforts to secure a better life for our people, most especially the private sector workers who comprise a large segment of our population,” Ubaldo said.

Secretary Baldoz commended NCMB for its efforts and said that “ win- win” strategy through conciliation and settlement is the best.

“Our time-tested strategies of 24/7 conciliation and team/

buddy conciliation have been effective in diffusing tensions between labor and management, preventing what could have been debilitating strikes in many

companies.” – NCMB Executive Director Reynaldo R. Ubaldo

DOLE Good News

�March 2013

In Iloilo, DOLE resolves worker’s retirement benefit claim in 3 hours through SEnA

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz commended the DOLE Regional Office No. 6 for successfully

resolving the retirement benefit claim of a rice mill worker in only about three hours through the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) 30-day conciliation-mediation mechanism.

Citing the report of DOLE Region 6 Director Ponciano Ligutom, Baldoz said the SEnA settlement involved Angelo Alog, a worker at the Midway Rice Mill, Jaro, Iloilo, who received his P200,000 retirement benefits after he requested the assistance of the DOLE regional office. Alog, of Brgy. Sambag, Jaro, retired from his job at the rice mill when he turned 60 last 9 February 2013.

After a week, he went to his employer, Andrew Lim Sui, to get his retirement benefits but was instructed to go to his employer’s accountant. Manong Angel, as Alog is fondly called, expected he would receive over a hundred thousand pesos, having worked for the rice mill for more than 30 years. However, to his surprise, the accountant pegged his retirement benefit to only P82,000.

Alog did not accept the money. On 18 February, he went to the DOLE Iloilo-Guimaras Field Office to request for assistance. Angelo Bedia, the SEnA Desk Officer (SEADO) attended to Manong Angel’s request. He explained the SEnA to the worker, how it works, and assisted him in accomplishing the request for assistance form. He also immediately called Lim Sui to a conference.

At around 2:00 P.M. that same day, Lim Sui appeared before the SEADO. Bedia explained to the employer the provisions of the retirement law. Lim Sui understood the explanation so that when he was presented the computation of Alog’s retirement benefit of P200,000, he immediately agreed to pay.

At noon the following day, Manong Angel received a check for P200,000 in front of the desk officer.

“Nagapasalamat guid ako sa DOLE kay nahibalu-an ko na ang akon kinamatarong. Tama guid ang desisyon ko nga magpangayo bulig diri, nahibalu-an ko ang nagakadapat ko nga batunon,” (I thank the DOLE because through it I knew my rights. I made the right decision of seeking its help for I was informed of the exact amount I that should receive.)

Manong Angel was very happy when he received the check. He was glad that he solicited the assistance of the DOLE; without it, he could not have received his entire retirement benefits.

He shared that his peers who retired earlier received a lesser amount.

After he got his retirement check, Manong Angel said he will advise his other co-workers who are about to retire to seek the help of DOLE so that they, too, will receive the exact amount of their benefits fast without going through a litigious and confrontational process.

“Nagapasalamat guid ako sa DOLE kay nahibalu-an ko na ang akon kinamatarong. Tama guid ang desisyon ko nga magpangayo bulig diri, nahibalu-an ko ang nagakadapat ko nga batunon,” (I thank the DOLE because through it I knew my rights. I made the right decision of seeking its help for I was informed of the exact amount I that should receive.) – Angelo Alog, a 60-year old retired worker from Iloilo City

� March 2013

DOLE Good News

In the Municipality of Balungao in Pangasinan, tupig has been known to be one of the town’s best native

delicacy. Such homegrown product not only tickles the tastes of Filipinos, but also the tourists who visit the great attractions of the North.

The booming venture of tupig production inspired the 25 members of the Tupig Makers Association of Balungao (TMAB) to turn their simple homespun trade into a community enterprise.

In 2009, the DOLE Regional Office No. 1, together with the local government of Balungao as the accredited co-partner, awarded a total of P144,300 to the group as they jumpstart their tupig-making livelihood.

The 25 TMAB members underwent project management training, simple bookkeeping/financial management and values orientation. The LGU of Balungao also provided the tupig-makers with technical and marketing assistance.

Tupig-maker Marites Camba recounts that producing 500 to 1,000 pieces of tupig daily would mean a take home pay of P500.

But Marites and the rest of the members of TMAB did not stop in dreaming big for their chosen livelihood venture. The DOLE Regional Office shared their aspiration of making tupig as a world-class product.

Creating a ripple effect to ensure the sustainability of tupig production, the

DOLE awarded P498,069 financial grant for the Tupig Livelihood Enhancement and Integrated Agricultural Production, which benefitted 100 persons, including the 25 members of TMAB.

The assistance also benefitted 35 rice farmers, 25 banana planters, and 25 charcoal makers as the DOLE supported the allied livelihood activities related to tupig-making such as the production of glutinous rice and banana and charcoal briquetting.

“Through the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program-Community Enterprise Development, we envision a more sustainable community enterprise through the infusion of more funds and services in the local industry, thereby assisting individual workers and community groups in developing livelihood activities right in the communities” DOLE Regional Office No. 1 Director Grace Ursua said.

“Convergence is the key. Through the DOLE’s convergence with other partner agencies, we move in providing more worker-groups with productivity improvement services to enhance the enterprises’ competitiveness,” she added.

The DILP is one of the DOLE’s program enrolled under the government’s Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP) which aims to generate sustainable local enterprises towards increased self-employment and productivity across the regions.

The DILP is designed to organize and focus services delivery of various government agencies and private organizations to achieve a systematic and rational convergence of such services and assistance to the community.

The convergence of DOLE and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Balungao paved the way for sound agricultural practices in glutinous rice production.

The Department of Trade and Industry introduced the beneficiaries to product quality and competitiveness, packaging and labeling, marketing and linking assistance through trade fairs.

Technology for better productivity alongside with environmental consciousness was also instilled among the beneficiaries of the charcoal briquetting project through the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology.

Access to social protection schemes was also afforded the beneficiaries through the Social Security System and PhilHealth.

Through the power of convergence, the project underwent full-blown transformation in terms of tools, product quality and competitiveness, productivity and returns/profits.

From the open grill on which they used to cook the tupig, their cooking equipment now has a roof and a stainless steel body with glass display compartment.

Even the native delicacy itself has been “dignified” with its appealing packaging and labeling, a total make-over from the usual old newspaper which was traditionally used as wrapper.

Marites shares that she and her colleagues have also diversified the flavors of the tupigs. Consumers can now select among peanut, cheese, and the original young coconut flavor.

“Now, our tupig is marketed not only in the country, but reaches as far as HongKong, Singapore, Spain, Canada, and the US,” Marites said.

With their improved and increased tupig production, Marites proudly remarks that TMAB’s production has increased to 1,500-3000 pieces daily. Consequently, each member’s income doubled, making it decent enough for a family’s daily subsistence.

For Marites, her income from tupig-making allowed her to send one of her child to college and two to high school.

LOCAL TASTE AT WORLD-CLASS LEVEL. Tupig-maker Marites Camba has been one of the proud locals of Balungao in Pangasinan, who continues to turn their homespun trade into a growing community enterprise.

Making tupig a world-class delicacy,Pangasinan tupig-makers reveal the secret to a successful community enterprise

DOLE Good News

�March 2013

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, German Minister of Labor and

Social Affairs Dr. Ursula Von Der Leyen, German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Joachim Heidorn, and Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Cleofe Natividad witnessed the signing of the “Agreement Concerning the Placement of Filipino Health Care Professionals in Employment Positions in the Federal Republic of Germany” between the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) headed by Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac and the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur fur Arbeit, or BA) headed by Director Monika Varnhagen in a simple ceremony at the DOLE in Intramuros, Manila.

The agreement paves the way for the opening of the German health care sector for Filipino healthcare professionals, including nurses.

Baldoz, after the agreement’s signing, hailed the quick and successful conclusion of the initiative as “a beginning of a stronger relationship between the Philippines and Germany in the field of labor and employment”.

The bilateral labor agreement covers the following areas of cooperation

between the two countries: (a) regulation on the deployment of Filipino health care professionals; (b) preservation, promotion, and development of Filipino workers’ welfare; (c) exchange of ideas and information with the aim of improving amd simplifying job placement procedures; and (d) other relevant technical and HRD cooperation and continuing studies in labor and employment.

Under the agreement, each party undertakes to ensure that the recruitment and deployment of Filipino health care professionals are in accordance with existing laws of each country; that Filipino health care professionals to be deployed have appropriate employment contracts; and that they are provided with proper briefing or orientation before departure.

The agreement provides that Filipino health care professionals may not be employed in Germany under working conditions less favorable than those for comparable German workers. They will also have compulsory insurance in the German social security system, such as health and long-term care insurance, pension, accident, and unemployment insurance. German

DOLE welcomes labor agreement with Germany on health care professionals

PH-GERMANY SIGN RECRUITMENT ACCORD. Philippine Overseas Employment Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac (seated, left) and Federal Employment Agency/International Placement Services Director Monika Varnhagen sign the “Agreement Concerning the Placement of Filipino Health Professionals in Employment Positions in the Federal Republic of Germany”. Witnessing the historical signing, which was held recently at the DOLE conference room in Intramuros, Manila, are Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (standing, left) and German Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

employers must also provide them adequate accommodation.

“There will be a standard bilingual labor employment contract to be used for the placement of Filipino health care professionals. Both parties will exert efforts to ensure observance of the workers’ rights,” Baldoz elaborated.

She further explained that both parties to the agreement will explore projects to sustain and promote HRD in the Philippines.

“While the bilateral labor agreement establishes the conditions for the recruitment and employment of Filipino health care professionals, including nurses, to Germany to address the shortage of health care workers in that country, the provisions on recognition of qualifications and mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of trained and qualified health care professionals in the Philippines through HRD cooperation are very important given the concerns of the Philippine health sector on their active migration,” Baldoz emphasized.

“We have to ensure that the migration of our workers takes place under an ethical recruitment framework that benefits the sending and receiving country,” she further said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has again turned to the online

gateway to solicit public involvement in the crafting of policy, this time, to ask public comments on the government draft of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on the recently enacted landmark law, Republic Act 10361, or ‘An Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers’.

Yesterday, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz directed the Labor Communications Office, in cooperation with the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions and the Planning Service, to post at the DOLE official website, www.dole.gov.ph, the government’s draft of the IRR, saying this will help the DOLE raise awareness, solicit inputs faster, and make transparent the crafting of the IRR.

“The online posting of the IRR on the Batas Kasambahay will provide the general public a venue to study the IRR and make comment/s or suggestion/s on its final version. It will give Filipino netizens a channel to express their views on the landmark document after years of legislative struggle,” Baldoz said.

“This is part of our strategy to raise the level of public knowledge on the salient provisions of the law which aims to provide adequate welfare and social protection to our Filipino household service workers,” she added.

Baldoz emphasized that the DOLE’s online solicitation of comments on the IRR is in addition to the nationwide face-to-face, group consultations with all relevant stakeholders scheduled for the whole month of April.

“We have decided to upload the draft IRR in the Internet to get as many comments as possible, because even some DOLE officials and employees and members of the media have raised questions on

First in DOLE History: Public to be consulted online in crafting Rules and Regulations on Kasambahay Law

the Batas Kasambahay which need to be addressed and clarified,” the labor and employment chief explained.

The Batas Kasambahay section at the DOLE’s website features the simplified Q and A, both in English and Tagalog version, to ensure that awareness about R.A. No. 10361 will reach and be understood by a wider audience.

The section even provides a ‘freedom wall’ where the public can leave their queries, comments, and other significant suggestions and inputs regarding the IRR draft on the Department’s designated e-mail addresses.

“We want the public and our partners to get involved in shaping the implementing rules of this social legislation. By doing so, we hope to solicit not only valuable inputs, but also support, which will make the law’s implementation effective and smooth.

Last January 18, President Benigno Aquino III signed into law the Kasambahay Bill which has been the most fitting gift that the government has given to over 2.9 million Filipino domestic helpers.

The Batas Kasambahay institutionalizes the provision of a comprehensive package of benefits to Filipino household service workers, including their entitlement to 13th month pay; service incentive leaves; and social welfare benefits such as SSS, PAG-IBIG, and PhilHealth.

The law fulfills the country’s obligation to enact a national legislation in compliance with the

International Labor Organization’s (ILO) adoption of Convention 189 which sets new international standards for the protection of household helpers.

“Be updated and know the latest on the Batas Kasambahay. Visit the DOLE’s website and check out our Batas Kasambahay section,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz emphasized that the theme of the Women’s Month celebration, “Kababaihan, Gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan,” corresponds to the DOLE’s thrust of providing equal opportunities to help disadvantaged women workers move out from unemployment to productive jobs and livelihood undertakings.

The DOLE’s Nego-Kart has provided vending carts, working capitals, and accessory livelihood tools to beneficiaries to boost their existing livelihood into profitable and sustainable business to make their income level at par with that of the minimum wage earners.

“Given such state of ownership with new vending carts, the DOLE empowers more workers in the informal sector to peddle towards prosperity with upgraded and diversified products and services, and market these to more buyers or customers. With their carts now registered under their LGU, they now have the full support of our local government towards increased mobility and productivity,” Baldoz explained.

With a new and packed Nego-Kart, Juliet now sells more food items, which increased her sales to P1,000 daily. Earning above the minimum wage and enjoying the perks of her social benefits, Juliet now enjoys self-sufficiency as her growing vending business has increased her income to be at par with, if not over, that of a minimum wage earner.

With increased earnings, the empowered mother has been able to save up for her children’s education. She even bought some household appliances such as a flat screen TV out of her small vending business.

Juleit thanked the DOLE for the opportunity.

“Maraming maraming salamat po kay Kalihim Baldoz at Director Agravante, sampu ng kanilang mga kasamahan sa Department of Labor and Employment, sa pagbibigay pansin at tulong sa tulad naming mga mahihirap. Sana po, ang iba pang street vendors na tulad ko ay mabigyan din ng pagkakataon na umunlad din sa buhay sa tulong at gabay ng DOLE,” said Abad.

Persistently peddling anew from one street to another, Juliet now continues to tread a dignified life towards a brighter future in the streets.

Nego-Kart project . . .(from page 1)