Indonesia Learns from JobStart PH

With its successful facilitation of school-to-work transition of at-risk Filipino youth, the labor department’s JobStart Philippines program is set to be replicated by the Indonesian government.

This after senior DOLE officials oriented Indonesian delegates, composed of staff of government ministries and regional employment service providers, on the implementation of the JobStart program during their study visit at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila.

JobStart is a full-cycle employment facilitation program which prepares young Filipinos for employment by providing them with career coaching, life skills and technical trainings, and internship with employers.

Labor Undersecretary Renato Ebarle said that since the program’s inception in 2014, a total of 16,481 Filipino youth, particularly those who are not in education, employment, and training or NEET, have benefited from the program.

Its implementation has been institutionalized through the enactment of the JobStart Philippines Act.

JobStart is now being implemented in 35 participating local government units and among its top industry partners are the business process outsourcing, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, and services sectors.

With this, Undersecretary Ebarle said that the program “has helped decrease the youth unemployment rate in the country—which we are optimistic that when piloted in Indonesia, will surely generate the same positive outcome.”

Undersecretary Ana Dione, meanwhile, expressed the “humble pride” of the Department as the JobStart Philippines program is now being benchmarked by Indonesia.

“With the little victories and lessons learned we’ve had since we started the program, this study visit becomes an opportunity to share our success stories, best strategies and lessons learned to serve as a guide as you implement the program in Indonesia,” she said.

OIC-Assistant Secretary and Bureau of Local Employment Director Dominique Tutay highlighted that what sets the program apart from other youth employment programs is the life skills training provided to the beneficiaries.

It is a 10-day training designed to holistically develop the behavior, attitude, and values of JobStart trainees, which as a result will enable them to plan better their career path and deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life and work.

JobStart Indonesia will be part of a larger labor market activation initiative of the Indonesian government in 2020 called Kartu Pra Kerja, which aims to provide 2 million skills training opportunities and job search incentives to new labor market entrants, unemployed workers or workers threatened with unemployment, and workers who want to upgrade their skills to remain competitive in the work force. (DOLE PR)