DOLE Promotes Workforce Readiness at National Summit

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) unveiled new strategies to prepare workers and businesses for changes in the job market during a national summit.

The event, held as part of the Inquirer’s Top 300 Philippines’ Best Employers Campaign, gathered industry leaders and professionals to discuss ways to improve workplace practices. DOLE was also honored as one of the top 100 employers in the survey, recognizing its efforts to create innovative workplace programs.

Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, through Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, highlighted how artificial intelligence, automation, climate change, and flexible work arrangements shape industries.

“These forces are reshaping industries globally—and here in the Philippines. While they bring challenges like job uncertainty and changing skill requirements, they also provide opportunities to build a more inclusive workforce,” Laguesma said.

DOLE shared several initiatives aimed at helping Filipino workers adapt. These include the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, which supports industry-led skills development, and the Trabaho Para Sa Bayan Act, designed to align workforce skills with market demands. Collaborations with TESDA, IBM, and DICT offer free training in digital and artificial intelligence skills, ensuring workers are ready for the future.

The department also addressed the rise of gig and platform-based work. DOLE is working with platform companies to establish ethical labor standards and ensure fair treatment for gig workers.

Efforts are underway to retrain workers for green industries, such as renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the department offers training and career guidance for caregivers to meet global demand while ensuring fair pay and career opportunities.

On an international level, DOLE reaffirmed its commitment to labor rights by ratifying International Labour Organization Conventions 81 and 190, which focus on improving workplace inspections and preventing harassment and violence.

In closing, Secretary Laguesma emphasized the importance of collaboration among policymakers, employers, and workers. “What works at work is a shared commitment to ensuring every Filipino has access to stable and meaningful livelihoods. This is about building a future based on dignity, security, and opportunity for all,” he said. (ASC)