Institutionalize Family Welfare Program — DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment Central Visayas (DOLE)-7 urges companies to institutionalize the Family Welfare Program (FWP).

FWP is a program which seeks to introduce the concept of promoting the welfare of workers and their families as key to workplace productivity and improved worker-management relations.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Salome Siaton said that the program could be attained if there is an advocacy program in each company that draws corporate support in promoting workers’ quality of life by adopting a family-centered approach in the workplace.

“For a Family Welfare Program to become functional, there is a need to integrate in its implementation the ten (10) dimensions hoping to instill family planning/family welfare consciousness among labor and management as a key in promoting workplace productivity, among others,” Siaton said.

The 10 dimensions of the Family Welfare Program include the following, namely: (1) Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood; (2) Education/Gender Equality; (3) Spirituality or Value Formation; (4) Income Generation/Livelihood/Cooperative; (5) Medical Health Care; (6) Nutrition; (7) Environment Protection, hygiene and Sanitation; (8) Sports and Leisure; (9) Housing; and (10) Transportation.

The Family Welfare Program is a mandatory requirement for establishments employing more than 200 workers. In the DOLE’s conduct of inspection, one of the indicators being checked is the company’s creation of a Family Welfare Committee.

However, according to Director Siaton, it would also be very helpful and advantageous for small establishments if they would adopt and implement the same since the program could help pave the way for productivity.

Meanwhile, Director Siaton recently gave recognition to Universal Robina Sugar Milling Corporation (URSUMCO). URSUMCO is a refined sugar company in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.

It was known that URSUMCO institutionalized the ten dimensions of the said program.

According to URSUMCO HR Manager and Negros Oriental Association of Family Welfare Committees President Charlotte G. Balbuena, institutionalizing the ten dimensions of the FWP is a way of providing their workers a holistic approach of taking care of their most valuable asset – its workers.

“With the adoption of the Family Welfare dimensions, companies can be assured that their workers are well taken care of while fostering their Corporate Social Responsibility. The DOLE will be there to assist companies and it’s the Department’s aim to work together with them towards the attainment of the FWP goals,” said the Regional Director. (MLC)