Cotabato City (May 9, 2023)– The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) opens various programs and youth-centered opportunities during the Labor Day celebration on Monday, May 1, in Cotabato City.
On Bangsamoro YoutHours’ 49th episode on Thursday, May 4, MOLE Senior Labor and Employment Officer Omar Shariff Pangilamen said the ministry, being the primary policy-making, programming, coordinating, and administrative entity of the BARMM in the field of labor and employment, was entrusted with leading the commemoration of Labor Day in the region.
Bearing the theme “Matatag na Trabaho at Kabuhayan para sa Manggagawang Bangsamoro” (or “Stable Jobs and Livelihood for Bangsamoro Workers”), the celebration aims to honor Bangsamoro workers and recognize their significant contributions to the Bangsamoro economy.
Part of its celebration was the line-up of different programs and services for the Bangsamoro, which also included youth-centered opportunities.
Free legal services, jobs fair, Lingkod Kasambahay Programs for domestic workers, registration for associations engaged in different business ventures, distribution of livelihood assistance, among others, were offered.
Included in the youth-centered programs was the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), which aims to promote public-private partnership by encouraging the participation of private establishments as employers of qualified students and out of school youth-applicants for gaining experience and enhancing their capabilities as future members of the workforce.
Bangsamoro Government Internship Program (GIP), which seeks to provide opportunities to fresh college graduates to work in the government for three months, was recently extended to six months.
The Sagip Batang Manggagawa was intended to mitigate the cases of child labor and encourage children to divert their focus to finishing their studies.
Omar stressed that observing Labor Day is significant for the youth as it helps them develop awareness of various employment opportunities and appreciate the value of work and the efforts and contributions of workers.
“We encourage our youth to build and equip themselves with knowledge and skills. This is what we can contribute to the aspirations of our Bangsamoro government,” he said.
The MOLE-BARMM was established through Article XVI, Section 8 (d), of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019.
It assumes the primary responsibility for: a) the promotion of gainful employment opportunities and the optimization of the development and utilization of the BARMM’s manpower resources; b) the advancement of workers’ welfare by providing for just and humane working conditions and terms of employment; and c) the maintenance of industrial peace by promoting harmonious, equitable, and stable employment relations that assure equal protection for the rights of all concerned parties. (BYC PR Unit/AAA)
