Volume V - Number 11

Labor and employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz counted the DOLE’s reform on sub-contracting, productivity toolbox, and the two-tier wage system as

among the DOLE’s major contributions to the promotion of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the ASEAN/APEC global supply chain.

“The DOLE has instituted—and continues to implement—major policy and program reforms to promote the growth and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs. We are committed to see through that these policy and program reforms bear the desired results in terms of enhanced employability for millions of Filipinos and increased competitiveness for the country’s MSMEs which comprise 91 percent of our establishments and account for 64 percent of total employment,” Baldoz said at the sidelines of the Senate plenary debates on the DOLE 2016 budget.

On sub-contracting, Baldoz said the major policy reform is D.O. 18-A, which she issued in 2011 to ensure that small enterprises in subcontracting industry are able to provide decent work to Filipino workers by ensuring their compliance to basic labor standards.

“Majority of small enterprises in the country are in the service sector and primarily engaged in contracting/subcontracting, thus, acting as major suppliers to multinational firms in the global value chain,” Baldoz said.

“Specifically, D.O. 18-A upholds the rights of workers in contracting/subcontracting arrangements. More importantly, it curbs the proliferation of fly-by-night contractors,” added Baldoz, noting that prior to the effectivity of D.O. 18-A, there were 17,000 registered subcontractors, but the number was significantly pared down to 5,581, clearly showing the elimination of fly-by-night contractors/subcontractors.

Baldoz said that to complement the regulatory reform, the DOLE actively engages private sector partners, like the 200 member-strong Philippine Association of Labor Service Contractors, or PALSCON, whose initiatives the DOLE actively supports by helping the organization build capacity of its members on ethical recruitment and contracting policies.

“We have plugged the PALSCON into the

Reform on subcontracting, productivity toolbox, two-tier wage system among DOLE’s major contribution to MSME promotion in ASEAN/APEC supply chain—Baldoz

regional and international networks contractors/subcontractors and exposed them to the latest trends and best practices. The PALSCON, the only association of registered contractors and subcontractors in the country, is now a member of the International Confederation of Private Employment Services,” Baldoz said.

The labor and employment chief said that to enable MSMEs to move from being enterprises that merely survive to enterprises that can participate in the global value chain, the DOLE, through the National Wages and Productivity Commission, is utilizing the Productivity Toolbox to enhance MSME competitiveness.

Explained Baldoz: “The Productivity Toolbox is a package of training and technical assistance on productivity improvement for MSMEs. Training under the toolbox are customized, depending on the capacity-building needs of MSMEs, and are intended to instill positive work values among the workforce to improve and mainstream a culture of quality and productivity towards enterprise development and competitiveness.”

From the basic module on quality and productivity improvement, the toolbox now includes Service Quality Training Program, Green My Enterprise Program, ISTIV Plus, Gain-sharing Schemes, and Productivity Enhancement Program for DOLE Livelihood Beneficiaries.

“Since 2010, the DOLE has provided 20,222 MSMEs with technical assistance under the Productivity Toolbox,” she said.

Another MSME promotion strategy that the DOLE utilizes is the Two-Tiered Wage System, a major reform designed to protect the poor and vulnerable workers and to enable enterprises to improve productivity and gain-sharing.

The mandatory floor wage (Tier 1) of the TTWS acts as social protection. It is set slightly higher than the poverty threshold, but not too close, or to exceed average wage to provide space

for bi-partite approaches in setting better terms and conditions of employment.

On the other hand, the voluntary productivity and performance-based pay scheme (Tier 2) encourages workers and enterprises to engage in productivity improvement and gain-sharing programs that tighten the link between wage and productivity at the shop floor.

Turn to page 7

DOLE Good News

2 November 2015

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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 EditorCATHERINE MARIE E. VILLAFLORES

Staff WritersGERRY S. RUBIO

CELESTE T. MARINGHAZEL JOY T. GALAMAY

ALTHEA LOUISE D. MAJAN

Graphic ArtistGREGORIO I. GALMAN

PhotographerJOMAR S. LAGMAY

Circulation ManagerGIRLIE MARLYN E. ARCE

Contributing Regional Writers

DIANA JOYZ ESGUERRA - NCR

JULIENNE FORTUNATO - CAR

ARLY S. VALDEZ - Region 1

REGINALD B. ESTIOCO - Region 2

JEREMIAH M. BORJA - Region 3

FRANZ RAYMOND AQUINO - Region 4A

ROSEMARIE CAMPOS - Region 4B

RAYMOND P. ESCALANTE - Region 5

AMALIA N. JUDICPA - Region 6

LUCHEL TANIZA - Region 7

MELDY TABANAO - Region 8

GAY IRIS TANGCALAGAN - Region 9

MILDRED E. DABLIO - Region 10

SHERWIN B. MANUAL - Region 11

MICHELLE T. OLOG - Region 12

IRIS C. ASIS - Caraga

DOLEGood News

VERSEAS CORNER

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Region I who experienced distress and displacement in their jobsites receive assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration Regional Office I (OWWA RWOI) to start their own livelihood.

Through the Balik-Pinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay (BPBH) Program, the OWWA RWOI has reached out to 230 OFW Beneficiaries in the region for the period of March to November 2015. The beneficiaries received P10,000 worth of starter kits for the livelihood of their choice.

For a total of P2.3 Million, the OWWA RWOI has released livelihood starter kits to 138 beneficiaries from Pangasinan, 50 from La Union, 24 from Ilocos Sur and 18 from IlocosNorte.

The latest releases were made in the provinces of La Union on October 15 and Ilocos Sur on November 2. The beneficiaries were given with starter kits on livelihood such as rice trading and burger/snack making.

One of them is Angel M. Domisiw of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, who was displaced from his work as technician in Saudi Arabia. He received a starter kit on burger stand business, which he said could enhance his wife’s existing carinderia business. The former OFW expressed thanks to OWWA for the assistance.

Most of the beneficiaries chose to engage in agri-related livelihoods, such as goat-raising with 49, and hog-raising with 29 beneficiaries. Others engage in technical livelihoods such as baking, plumbing and vulcanizing.

Meanwhile, another 190 starter kits are scheduled for release in November-December 2015 in La Union and Pangasinan. The OWWA RWOI hopes to reach out to more than 300 beneficiaries before the year ends.

The OWWA BPBH Program is a non-cash Livelihood Support to provide immediate assistance to active OWWA members who came home because of work-related distress and displacement since January 9, 2015. The P10,000 Livelihood Assistance package consists of techno-skills and entrepreneurial development training, and Livelihood Starter Kits which enable the beneficiaries to quickly start a livelihood undertaking.

OWWA Region I distributes 230 Starter Kits Beneficiaries

BPBH Beneficiaries from La Union receive their starter kits on rice trading and burger/snack making given to them by OWWA RWOI on October 15, 2015. Facilitating the release were Mr. Sergio B. Borgueta, Jr., OIC Director; and Ms.Ms.Dolly Ann Camacho, Reintegration Unit Head.

DOLE Good News

3November 2015

Baldoz unveils first Labor Standards Compliant Zone in CALABARZONSeaworthiness of every vessel

is not only a must in maritime transportation but a standard of

compliance that should be followed by every ship captain and ship owner. In the case of NYK TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) of Knowledge Avenue, Carmeltown, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, this is impressed upon each and every cadet that undergo rigid theoretical and actual training in its simulation facilities and marine vessels.

With such high standards set in maritime navigation, it was only a matter of time that the maritime academy achieved the same level of compliance standards in terms of General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health.

True to its goal of promoting the highest standards in maritime education, NYK TDG Maritime Academy I.T. Park was accorded recognition as the First Labor Laws Compliant Zone in Laguna and for Region IV-A after a Joint Assessment conducted by Labor Laws Compliance Officer Daisy G. Ramos and tripartite validation of representatives from the Laguna Labor Management Council, Inc.

No less than Secretary of Labor Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and former DOLE Secretary and NTMA Chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas personally unveiled the marker announcing NYK TDG Maritime Academy as “A Labor Laws Compliant Zone” starting November 9, 2015 to November 8, 2018. This signifies that the maritime school and all its contractors and subcontractors have been found to be compliant with general labor standards and occupational safety and health as mandated under Department Order 131 Series of 2013 as amended (Labor Laws Compliance System).

During the ceremonies, OIC ARD Guido R. Recio had the privilege of introducing Honorable Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz as Keynote Speaker. In her message, Hon. Baldoz praised the unveiling of the marker which sends a signal to the world a culture of voluntary compliance.

For her part, Chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas appreciated the declaration and affirms their commitment of promoting the welfare of land and sea based employees.

Atty. Alvin Villamor of the DOLE who delivered a message in behalf of DOLE Regional Director Ma.Zenaida A. Angara-Campita, said that NYK TDG Maritime Academy has set the standards and serves as role model.

Secretary Baldoz was more than pleased to lead the awarding of Certificates of Compliance to the maritime academy and its service providers namely Green Meadows Security Agency Inc., Stronglink Manpower Services and Sycamore Manpower Services.

FIL Maritime E-Training, Inc. and NYK TDG Maritime Academy were likewise awarded Tripartite Certificates of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS) and Child Labor Free Establishment (CLFE).

Among the guests during the unveiling were local officials, representatives from the PEZA, and officials of the Laguna Labor Management Council, Inc.

The Labor Secretary was likewise impressed as she joined a “walk through” of the maritime academy’s modern facilities and simulation rooms for navigation and shipboard operations by Captain Eliseo Z. Clemente .

Just like the compass which is indispensable to seafarers, the Certificates of Compliance will give direction to the maritime academy as it charts the seas of labor and maritime laws in its voyage of producing competent merchant marine officers.(R. SINAY, Senior LEO,DOLE-LPO)

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz (top, right) and former DOLE Secretary and NYK-TDG Chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas unveil the NYK-TDG Industrial Technology Park Labor Laws Compliant Marker at the Park’s facility in Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna.

Secretary Baldoz delivers her keynote message as guest of honor while former DOLE Secretary and NYK-TDG Chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas; Industrial Park Zone Manager Vivian Santos and NYK-TDG Maritime Academy President Josie Francisco listen intently.

DOLE Good News

4 November 2015

A stronger and more cohesive protection for domestic helpers in the country is now

assured following the signing of a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) on rescue and rehabilitation of abused kasambahay by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz announced this, saying the joint efforts of the DOLE, DSWD, DILG, PNP, and NBI in coming up with a mechanism further protects domestic workers under RA 10361.

“This is a leap forward in our work for our domestic workers whose welfare and protection we have pursued in several developmental laws and agreements, such as the ratification of International Labor Organization Domestic Workers’ Convention, or Convention 189, and the enactment of Republic Act 10361, or the Kasambahay Law,” Baldoz said.

Under the JMC, the DSWD, through the municipal or city social welfare officer, in coordination with concerned barangay officials who are under the DILG’s supervision, take charge of the rescue and rehabilitation of abused kasambahay, while the DOLE oversees their job placement.

The goal of the JMC is to set in place a more unified inter-agency network to protect the rights of kasambahay against abuse, harassment, violence, and economic exploitation.

The JMC provides that any act of abuse committed against a kasambahay can be reported to authorities by the offended kasambahay themselves, their parents, or guardians, including relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity; DSWD social workers, law enforcement officers from the PNP’s Women and Children Protection Desk; barangay officials; or

More cohesive rescue, rehabilitation of abused Kasambahay now guaranteed under new inter-agency agreement – Baldoz

even a lawyer, counselor, therapist, or health care provider of the offended kasambahay.

“Even at least two concerned citizens in the community where the abuse occurred and who has personal knowledge of the offense committed, or government officials and employees, can report the abuse and call for their rescue. That’s how we have intensified the protection to this vulnerable sector in our labor force,” Baldoz added.

The labor chief recalled that immediately upon the effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations of Batas Kasambahay on 4 June 2013, the DOLE had set in place the mechanisms to operationalize the provisions of the

law and its implementing rules and regulations.

The DOLE, she said, is committed to assist in all the stages of the conduct of rescue operations, particularly in facilitating the settlement or disposition of labor-related disputes and the provision of alternative livelihood or employment for rescued kasambahay.

“Our primary objective was how to mainstream kasambahay concerns into our labor dispute mechanisms. For this, we have designated Kasambahay Desk Officers in all DOLE regional offices to attend to kasambahay complaints using the Single Entry Approach, a DOLE

reform measure – now also a law – to effect faster, fairer, and inexpensive settlement of labor issues. We have established other related mechanisms on the employment of kasambahay, such as wage setting, occupational safety and health, and recruitment regulations to ensure that pertinent provisions of the law are complied with,” Baldoz explained.

She also said the DOLE had revised its Rules and Regulations Governing Recruitment and Placement for Local Employment to incorporate the roles and responsibilities of private employment agencies under the law, especially in assisting the kasambahay in the filing of complaints and cooperating with government agencies in rescue operations.

The joint memorandum circular enjoins all governors, city and

municipal mayors, punong barangay, presiding officers of the Sanggunian, regional directors and field officers of DOLE, DILG, DSWD, PNP, NBI and other concerned agencies and organizations to enforce the protocol on kasambahay rescue and rehabilitation.

The mistreatment committed against a kasambahay may

be in the form of physical, sexual, and psychological harm

or economic abuse, which includes withholding of wages or part of it, or

any act which induce the kasambahay to give up any part of the wage by force, stealth, intimidation, threat or by any other unlawful means.

Rescued kasambahay will be provided with temporary shelter; counseling; legal, medical or psychosocial services; livelihood and skills training, and job placement.

The JMC also stipulates that LGUs may opt to use the annual five percent of their Gender and Development (GAD) budget, or any other local fund source, in rescuing and rehabilitating abused kasambahay, as well as in carrying out capability-building programs at the local level, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations on gender and development.(GSR)

DOLE Good News

5November 2015

DOLE Good News

Labor and Employment S e c r e t a r y

R o s a l i n d a Dimapilis-Baldoz said the DOLE Legal Service has finally settled a four-year old labor dispute at Manila Toll Expressway System, Inc. which resulted to the awarding of P11 million in monetary settlement to 20 former workers.

Baldoz hailed the settlement of the lingering labor row, saying it “augurs well to industrial harmony, economic stability, and the country’s efforts to foster job-rich growth”.

“Through conciliation-mediation handled by the DOLE-Legal Service, the 20 former employees of Manila Toll Expressway, System, Inc. (MATES) received the amount of P 550,000.00 each, or a total of P11 million, as settlement of their awards for separation pay, attorney’s fees, and full backwages,” said Baldoz, adding that the said employees received their monetary settlement and Certificates of Employment (COE) on 3 November 2015.

DOLE Legal Service Attorneys Florence Daquioag, Earl Louie Masacayan and Nathaniel Barrairo of the DOLE Legal Service facilitated the conciliation-mediation conference. The 20 workers were among the 107 complainants of the case docketed as OS-VA-005-2011 (SEAD-NCR-MPFO-006-06-11).

On 1 June 2011, the 20 employees filed a complaint for regularization, illegal dismissal, and money claims against the Manila Toll Expressway, System, Inc. (MATES), a corporation involved in the operations and maintenance of the A l a b a n g - C a l a m b a portion of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), before the DOLE Regional Office in NCR.

Several conciliation-mediation conferences were conducted by the DOLE NCR, but no

Baldoz commends DOLE Legal Service for facilitating P11-M in monetary awards to 20 Manila Tollway Express System workers

amicable settlement was reached. Both parties agreed to submit the case for voluntary arbitration by the Office of the DOLE Secretary which conducted conciliation conferences to exhaust possible remedies for the amicable settlement of the said labor dispute. Out of the 107 complainants, 87 opted to receive their separation pay, but the remaining 20 chose to pursue their complaint.

On 25 February 2013, Secretary Baldoz issued a decision declaring the 20 former employees to have attained regular status and directing MATES, in lieu of reinstatement, to pay them separation package and attorney’s fees equivalent to ten percent of the total amount awarded. However, both parties filed their respective Motion for Reconsideration for the said Decision of the Office of the Secretary.

On 27 August 2015, then Acting Secretary Rebecca C. Chato issued a Resolution modifying the Decision, awarding additional full back wages to the 20 employees. However, the claim for reinstatement of the said employees and MATES’ Motion for Reconsideration were also denied.

Consequently, on 18 September 2015, the 20 employees sent a letter requesting

DOLE to conduct a conciliation-m e d i a t i o n conference for the possible settlement of the labor dispute

on their awards according to the previous decision of Secretary Baldoz on 25 February 2013 and the DOLE Resolution issued on 27 August 2015.

Acting on the above request, the Legal Service under the Conciliation and Mediation Unit-Office of the Secretary (OSEC-CMU), issued a Notice of Conference requesting Manila Toll Expressway, System, Inc. and the 20 affected employees for a conciliation-mediation proceedings on 24 September 2015.

During the said conference, the 20 employees, assisted by their counsel Atty. Gaston D. Taquio, submitted a proposed computation of their back wages and settlement amount. MATES was represented by Attys. Ruby A. Sy and Allan G. Kato.

On 15 October 2015, the 20 employees agreed with the counter offer of MATES amounting to PhP 550,000 for each employee, or a total of P 11,000,000 as separation pay, attorney’s fees, and full back wages reckoned on 1 June 2011 until the finality of the Department’s Decision.

On 3 November 2015, the 20 employees received the agreed settlement amount and their Certificate of Employment issued by MATES. (CTM)

DOLE Good News

6 November 2015

P1.4-M worth of DOLE Negokart assistance awarded to 93 vendors in Pangasinan’s Urdaneta City, Balungao and Infanta

Marife Orines of Balungao, Pangasinan will never have to rent ‘padyak’ again for her

small vending business. On November 23, she and 32 other

vendors received P510-K livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 1 under the Negosyo sa Kariton project. The assistance consists of vending cart, working capital, trainings on production, entrepreneurship and business management, social protection and business permits.

“Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa DOLE at sa lokal na pamahalaan ng

Balungao dahil kayo po ang nagsilbing daan para masagot ang aking dasal na sana ay mapalago ko ang aking maliit na negosyo,” Marife said.

With the help from the DOLE and the LGU, Marife can save more money which she can roll for her working capital and use to diversify her goods, she told.

“Ibig pong sabihin noon, magiging mas malaki ang kita at mas gaganda ang buhay,” she said.

Sampaguita dela Cruz of UrdanetaCity who received help from the labor agency on November 17, gained a renewed confidence about their family’s

economic condition. “Isa pong malaking biyaya sa aming pamilya ang Negokart mula sa DOLE. Dahil po sa vending cart at dagdag na kapital, makakaikot po ako sa mga ibang lugar, darami ang customers, paninda at lalaki ang kita,” Sampaguita said.

The DOLE-RO 1 granted P630 thousand livelihood assistance to the LGU to help 42 vendors enhance their small vending business.

For Margarita Colcol of Infanta, Pangasinan, being one of the latest recipients of the Negokart project means she and her husband can have greater income to be able to send their five children to school.

Margarita shared that she used to earn P200 to P300 daily from a P300-P500 capital. “With additional working capital from the DOLE, I expect my present income to double,” she enthused.

“Marife, Sampaguita and Margarita are among the vulnerable workers who

the DOLE aims to empower towards attaining their sense of self-worth through livelihood. Aside from seeing their family’s economic conditions improve, what we look forward to is hearing from them that they are finally able to contribute in creating employment opportunities and fostering economic growth in their respective localities,” DOLE-1 Regional Director Grace Ursua said.

She lauded the field offices of the DOLE in Rosales and Alaminos headed by Fresnaida Gundan and Bernadette May Mamitag, respectively, for facilitating the delivery of the livelihood assistance to the beneficiaries.

A total of P1,410,040.32 was provided to the three LGUs to assist 93 beneficiaries in enhancing their existing livelihood undertakings.

The LGUs shared a total of P111,165 for the trainings, business and health permits and social insurance coverage of the beneficiaries. (Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez)

DOLE Good News

7November 2015

The labor and employment chief further explained that the voluntary productivity and performance-based pay scheme is implemented through the issuance of industry-specific advisories containing an assessment of past industry performance and outlook, as well as the range of productivity-based incentives.

“One very positive feature of the TTWS is its emphasis on the need for workers and employers to be involved in the development and implementation of productivity improvement programs,” she said, adding that the NWPC also regularly monitors minimum wages of ASEAN member states to guide MSMEs on the comparability of the country’s minimum wages with other member states.

“Our monitoring shows that some minimum wage rates in investment destination regions, like Regions III, IVA, VII, X and XI, are comparable with those of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China, which in turn presents opportunities for MSMEs to link to the supply chains of these businesses,” Baldoz said further.

Other major DOLE initiatives that the DOLE implements to promote MSMEs are the Productivity Olympics which recognizes best MSME productivity practices; TESDA’s industry-responsive TVET programs that seeks to fill the skills gap in high-employment demand industries; employment facilitation through LMI delivery; and entrepreneurship and community enterprise development through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program, or DILEEP.

As of October, some 2,491 workers have received P36,003,181.52 monetary claims through the

Single Entry Approach (SEnA), the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Luzon said.

This is DOLE Regional Director Atty. Ana Dione’s report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimalis-Baldoz on the regional office’s accomplishment in this year’s SEnA scorecards.

Dione said that total money claims represent a 94 percent settlement rate in the settlement of 1,134 of 1,208 requests for assistance handled by the regional and field offices.

“This figure likewise represented the biggest portion of the 1,208 total RFAs disposed, recording an astonishing 100% overall disposition rate for the period in review,” Dione explained.

With the same period in review, the DOLE, last year, obtained the same settlement rate with monetary claims amounting to P 15,865,395.38, benefiting 2,263 workers.

“We are happy that we are able to facilitate the release of various small money claims which could’ve resulted into full blown labor cases but thanks to the inexpensive and speedy intervention of the SEnA, we were able to sit down with employers and their workers and work out a win-win solution for them,” Dione said, adding:

2,491 workers in Central Luzon receive more than P36-M money claims thanks to the DOLE’s SENA

“Aside from our new reforms in labor inspection—the labor laws compliance system (LLCS), we’re continuously promoting the SEnA in light of unforeseen labor disputes that may arise because we don’t want management and

labor go through the tedious litigation process of resolving their issues. We want to provide an avenue for them to resolve it speedily. To our workers, if you have problems at work, give our SEnA a try.”

By province, monetary claims paid to workers are as follows:Bulacan (P19,253,837.68 – 685 workers), Pampanga (P5,029,843.22 - 435), Bataan (P3,571,739.85 – 535), Zambales (P3,569,858.62 – 642), Nueva Ecija (P2,289,080.03 – 65), Tarlac (P2,033,470.84 – 277), and Aurora (P74,591.00 – 65).

The regional office also settled monetary claims amounting to P180,760.28 benefiting 19 workers.

Strategic efforts of the regional and field offices were able to settle RFAs with least amount of time, some less than a week or even at times within the day/hour.

The SEnA continues to maintain its reputation as a speedy and inexpensive means in resolving labordisputes, it is a breakthrough reform in dispute settlement. (Jerry Borja with reporting from TSSD1 for Labor Relations and Labor Standards and DOLE Field Offices)

Reform on subcontracting . . . (from page 1)

Rescued household helper in Kuwait assisted by DOLE, funds underway for 54 more

She thought she could no longer come back to her family. But she gathered all the strength she could muster and ran way. She walked for several kilometers unaware where she

was but with one thing in mind- she must survive.Mechellene P. Zafra of Barangay Calajo-an, Minglanilla, Cebu,

a household service worker in Kuwait, had so much to thank for after she got immediate help from the Philippine Embassy and from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Philippine Overseas Labor and Offices (POLOs) in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).

Although Mechellene’s return was very untimely since she still has so many things to accomplish and her dreams for the family left unfulfilled, she said she is grateful for the timely response being acted on by the government to help her out.

“I left for Kuwait in February this year because I wanted to help augment the income and sustain the needs of the family,” she said, adding that she tried to cope with the 18 hours of work that her employers required of her to render every day without the benefit of a day-off.

This, she said further, did not include the fact that she was restricted from communicating with her family more often and other unfair policies imposed on her by her employers.

It was when her employer brought her along with them to France for a vacation in July this year, when the sexual abuse happened. According to her sworn statement, she was sexually molested by her male employer while on Vacation in Gex, France.

She ran away and even walked for several kilometers until unknowingly she reached nearby Switzerland where she reported the incident to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva.

On 27 July, POLO-Geneva coordinated with POLO-Kuwait. Arrangements were made requesting for the repatriation funds for Mechellene. Three (3) days after, the OWWA coordinated with her agency, the Keys Placement Agency based in Cebu City to shoulder the cost of her repatriation.

She departed from Geneva via London on 16 August where she was given appropriate assistance to ensure smooth connecting flights until she arrived in Manila the following day. She was also afforded with pocket money for her travel. Apart from the orientation given to her during the exit conference, Mechellene was informed of the possible livelihood assistance from the DOLE and its attached agencies which she might want to avail.

“I am so thankful to the Department of Labor and Employment, to OWWA, and to NRCO for extending me their kind assistance. This means so much to me and to my family. Thank you for helping me start anew with my dreams left unfulfilled as an OFW,” said Mechellene during the official turn-over of the P10,0000 worth of starter kit afforded to her by the DOLE through the NRCO. Having acquired of TESDA’s NC II Certification on caregiving, Mechellene opted to go for a business related to it.

DOLE 7-OIC Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga personally handed the kit to Mechellene at the DOLE Regional Office yesterday.

Under the NRCO’s Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay Project, distressed women OFWs are given financial livelihood assistance in the form of starter kits which will help facilitate their self-employment in the community.

NRCO-7 Regional Coordinator Dexter Paro said that under the

program, beneficiaries are given opportunities to acquire skills on entrepreneurship through the conduct of trainings. They are also given tools, jigs, and equipment which they will use for their start-up business, he added. Inputs for production and services as well as knowledge on acquisition and sharing are also given to beneficiaries.

“Priority of the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay Project is the returning women OFWs who are distressed workers sheltered by POLO at the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC) and the distressed and displaced women household service workers (HSWs).

Mechellene is one of the ten (10) distressed women OFWs, all of whom are household service workers in the Middle East countries, referred to the DOLE-NRCO by the DOLE’s POLOs.

Said OFWs according to Paro, already attended and completed trainings on bread and pastry production; cosmetology; caregiving; basic sewing-tailoring; and beads and accessories-making. Each one, he added, will receive P10,000.00 in livelihood assistance for a total of P100,000.00.

Apart from this, he said further, another 45 distressed women OFWs from the Middle East are scheduled to attend a livelihood skills training on 28-29 November 2015. Said OFWs will also avail the same assistance that Mechellene received.

“As of this month, the amount of almost P500,000.00 is in the pipeline ready for distribution to the beneficiaries of the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay Project,” said Paro, adding that said assistance will be released before the year ends when all documents are ready, validated, and complete. (LSenarlo-Taniza)

DOLE-RO7 OIC Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga (right), together with NRCO-7 Regional Coordicator Dexter Paro, turn over a P10-K livelihood starter kit to Mechellene Zafra, an OFW from Minglanilla, Cebu who was rescued from her ordeal abroad. (photo by LSTaniza)