Gov’t, Private Sector Team Up to Generate 1M Jobs by End of 2021

Different government agencies and business groups signed a manifesto to generate 1 million jobs by the end of 2021 as both the private and public sectors committed to recover lost jobs in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that the government welcomes the partnership as it will give a boost tp the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) objective to recover lost employment.

“On behalf of the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force, we welcome this partnership project with the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) to generate 1 million jobs for 2021. This is a big boost in our work at the NERS Task Force in bringing back lost employment and reinvigorating the labor market with increased economic activities,” the trade chief said.

The NERS’ tasks for the manifesto will include the securing of vaccination for qualified workers; provision of assistance to businesses by improving investment climate; provision of workers’ profiles for referral to existing job vacancies; and the implementation of Telecommuting Act and promote other alternative work arrangements.

The manifesto, named “Reform. Rebound. Recover: One Million Jobs for 2021,” was signed by multiple government agencies such as the Commission of Higher Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation, Department of Tourism, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

From the private sector, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., Philippine Constructors Association, Inc., Philippine Hotel Owners Association, Inc., and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc.

Moreover, the government is to provide trainings for workers, provide transportation to workers to be given vaccines, organize job caravans, and other support mechanisms. (GFB)