JobStart PH to boost youth employment in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte's out-of-school youth will now have a better chance at landing jobs with the help of the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) newest program to enhance the employability of young Ilocanos here.DOLE's JobStart Philippines aims to provide life skills training with one-on-one coaching, technical training, and internship for unemployed out-of-school youth aged 18 to 24 years old.The program is a project of the DOLE in collaboration with the local government units here, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and other stakeholders.DOLE labor employment officer III Maurice Philip Pugal said Tuesday they are currently in close coordination with the concerned government agencies to facilitate the screening and registration of would-be beneficiaries."To qualify for the program, a JobStart trainee must be a Filipino citizen; 18 to 24 years old, have reached at least high school level; and not in education, in employment, or training at the time of the registration,” said Pugal.The Ilocos Norte board formalized the program's rollout by unanimously approving Draft Resolution 2022-03-483 on April 4, giving Gov. Matthew Joseph Manotoc authority to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the DOLE-Ilocos Region.Under the program’s implementing rules and regulations, the beneficiaries shall receive an allowance for the duration of life skills training and technical skills training and shall undertake an internship with establishments for a maximum of three months with a stipend not less than 75 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in the locality.Pugal added that youth who are at-risk or those who are from low-income households and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) will be given priority.On the part of PESO, they will be tasked to assess and evaluate the applicants to determine their overall job readiness and whether they should be referred for employment or would require further training.In a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment rate decreased from 6.6 percent in December 2021 to 6.4 percent in January 2022.The PSA said the 6.4-percent unemployment rate in January this year translates to 2.93 million unemployed Filipinos, which is lower than the 3.27 million unemployed in December 2021.Most of the unemployed were from the youth sector who wish to work but lack a sustainable platform to increase their employability.In Ilocos Norte, employers of construction firms, business process outsourcing, and other emerging establishments have already expressed support for the program. (PNA)