Phil-jobnet ready for displaced workers

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino workers at home and abroad who may lose their jobs due to the global economic crisis can avail of the government's Internet-based job-matching program, labor officials said Saturday. Labor secretary Marianito Roque said the Department of Labor and Employment's Phil-Jobnet system is a convenient, readily available job search service accessible on a 24/7 basis. Jobseekers can access the site through www.phil-job.net or at www.dole.gov.ph, he said in an article on the DOLE website. He said the Phil-Jobnet system, under the supervision of the BLE, an also be accessed through some 100 user-friendly "Greater Modular Access" Job Center kiosks in strategic locations nationwide such as shopping malls and local government units. "Displaced workers may readily access the Phil-Jobnet using any Internet-connected computers whether at worksites, at home, or in public computer shops," said Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) director Criselda Sy. Sy added there are Philjobnet workstations available to workers and job seekers nationwide. She said such workstations are available mainly in the country's Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) network found in pertinent cities and towns with available Internet service. "As available in the PESOs in locations where Internet is available, trained PESO personnel can assist and orient users in accessing and availing of the services of the Phil-Jobnet system in such workstations," she said. This way, Roque said workers displaced by the global crisis will have resort and access to available job opportunities actively posted by various industries and employers here and abroad. Citing a report of the BLE, Roque said there are now some 46,300 job vacancies of various categories available in the Phil-Jobnet system. Meanwhile, Deputy Administrator Teresita Manzala, who heads the DOLE's National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NRCO), advised displaced OFWs to avail of the free services. Manzala said these programs geared at assisting them in partnership with other agencies participating in the agency's "One-Stop Center para sa mga returning OFWs na na-displace ng global economic crisis." Under the NRCO's One-Stop Center, pertinent agencies have made available a package of assistance and services for the benefit of OFWs. She said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-NRCO (528-0848, 526-2633, 526-2392) are providing active livelihood support, counseling and guidance to displaced OFWs. Together with the NRCO, DOLE and non-DOLE agencies of the government are also providing the necessary interventions to alleviate the plight of displaced OFWs, including: the DOLE'S Bureau of Local Employment for referral service for local employment; Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for legal assistance for those displaced OFWs with money claims, and referral services for overseas employment; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for scholarship training, retooling, and skills upgrading; Technology Resource Center for business counseling and training to start a livelihood project; Social Security System (SSS) for OFW Family Club Cards for pertinent services and benefits; and, PhilHealth for Family health card for a one-year free health insurance, Manzala said. - GMANews.TV