DOLE livelihood programs minimize labor disputes in Metro Cebu

CEBU CITY, Jan. 27 – The labor department’s livelihood programs have helped minimize labor disputes in Metro Cebu despite the global crisis, an official said.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 Director Elias Cayanong said the different job opportunities they offered to displaced workers have helped families.

While some workers had training for tourism-related jobs, others also underwent mentoring programs and there were classes for special skills for their dependents.

Based on DOLE records, Region 7 (Central Visayas), Region 3, National Capital Region and Region 4-A were hardly hit by the global financial crisis because most of the job-generating industries are into exports.

”In order to pacify the people, we should increase the livelihood programs to maintain good labor relations. There’s a saying that an empty stomach is an angry stomach, and we found out that giving more assistance, especially to the informal sector, eased out the complaint of some people that they are out of jobs, have no more jobs and have nothing to do. But with this livelihood programs, they were able to survive during the crisis,” Cayanong said.

Dole 7 hopes to have the same allocation of P27 million for livelihood programs this year.

Cayanong even hopes that the National Government will again allocate more, like what it did last year when the budget funding reached P37 million.

Aside from workers getting training to work in tourism-related industries, others opted to be part of the “mentoring” program, where they assisted out-of-school youths.

The “Kabataan Ito” program allowed displaced workers to register with the DOLE and get accreditation to teach information technology to out-of-school youths.

”The DOLE will pay them an honorarium of not less than P35 an hour for a minimum of two youths that they will mentor,” Cayanong said.

DOLE also had the “Negokart”, where the agency distributed 100 carts for small entrepreneurs, last year. Cayanong said they hope to distribute 100 more carts this year.

Apart from the affected workers, the DOLE gave livelihood skills training to their dependents, who underwent skills training in massage therapy, manicure, pedicure and dress making. (PNA) FFC/EB/re

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