Over 6M Pinoys employed during PNoy administration —DOLE

More than six million Filipinos have been employed since President Benigno Aquino III assumed the presidency in 2010, a  Labor Department report showed.

A comparative study of employment rates showed that 6.657 million Filipinos have been employed from 2010 to 2016, or 21-percent rise from 4.72 million during the 2005 to 2010 period.

Also, the Department of Labor and employment (DOLE) study showed PhilJobNet, the Philippine government's official job portal, posted 5.8 million job vacancies since Aquino assumed office in 2010, a far cry from the 1.4 million from the 2005 to 2010 period.

Likewise, the DOLE study indicated that more than one million applicants registered with PhilJobNet from 2010 to 2016 compared to the  185,554  from 2005 to 2010.

Moreover, the DOLE study showed that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) certified 4.553 million skilled workers, up from 2.873 million during the whole of the preceding administration.

Meanwhile, the Technical Vocational Education and Training, and the Training for Work Scholarship Program graduates had an employment rate of 65.4 percent and 71.9 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, the placement rate of the Public Employment Service  Office (PESO) rose from 73 to 83 percent.

Higher wages, benefits

Under the Aquino administration, minimum wages range from P228 to P493 per day, while that of the preceding administration was between P142 to P414.

Aside from higher wages, workers also received tax-free incentives, such as P105,187 worth of de minimis benefits, and up to P82,000 in 13th-month pay and other bonuses.

Government employees also received higher benefits to compete with the private sector such as P200-per-day sickness benefits (from P90), P20,000 funeral benefit (from 10,000), P575 carer's allowance, P150 in doctor's professional fee (from P60), P2,500 in meal and transportation allowances (from P1,800), the DOLE report added.

Meanwhile, 66,297 (from 55,352) overseas Filipino workers benefited from repatriation assistance and 28,596 (from 1,517) got free training and start-up capital for personal businesses.

DOLE also established the Assist WELL program for OFWs affected by wars, political conflict, pandemic, and disasters in the countries they came from.

The Assist WELL program provides comprehensive welfare, employment, legal, and livelihood assistance to returning OFWs. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/LBG, GMA News