We have posted in this site that DOLE has been recruiting a lot of unemployed nurses and helping them land a job abroad. The fruit of this recruitment now comes to the stage of training these qualified nurses before letting them out into the world. NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Services) conducted the training of these qualified nurses and the full story can be read below.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said unemployed nurses who will be hired under the NARS (nurses assigned in rural service) program will be trained to perform public health functions and the necessary clinical tasks to enhance their employability in local hospitals and eventually in medical centers overseas.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the NARS program is a training-cum employment scheme wherein the hired nurse-trainees will be trained not only in providing basic health services to needy folks in rural areas but also in performing clinical functions under the guidance of participating hospitals and other medical facilities in areas where the nurse-trainees will be assigned.

Roque said the Department of Health (DOH) would identify the hospitals and other medical providers that would participate in the NARS program and at the same time formulate the program’s training module and related learning and development activities in close coordination with the Board of Nursing (BON) of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

He added that the DOH would also closely supervise the training of the nurse-trainees whose competencies would later be assessed by the PRC-BON, thereby, ensuring that the trainees are equipped with the essential skills and knowledge for employment locally and eventually overseas.

Roque also specified that the NARS program is not a waste of taxpayer money saying that on the contrary, the program would serve the people in areas where medical services are mostly needed. He added that it would also serve as the nurse-trainee’s jump-off point for a full-time job in local hospitals where they can gain the necessary experience that would later qualify them for employment overseas.

The NARS program was launched by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the Multi-Sectoral Summit on “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis” held recently in Malacanan Palace in line with the pump priming strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of the global financial crisis on Filipino workers.

The program aims to address the (1) glut in inexperienced nurses, (2) the proliferation of “volunteer nurses” working in hospitals without being paid, (3) promote health of the people, and (4) bring government services closer to the grassroots.

Nurses will be deployed at an average of five per town in the 1,000 poorest municipalities, for a six-months tour of duty. Completion of the training program under NARS program will be considered as a substitute for the work experience requirement of hospitals and other health facilities.

Roque said the nurse-trainees will be jointly issued the Certificate of Completion by the DOLE, DOH and PRC, adding that while on training, the nurses will be given a stipend/allowance of P8,000.00 per month.

The DOLE Chief, nonetheless, urged local governments to support the program by offering additional allowances to nurse-trainees assigned in their localities. He also appealed to corporations to chip in by providing shirts, insurance, vitamins, etc.

Unemployed registered nurses who are physically and mentally fit and willing to serve in their hometowns and who meet the following requirements may qualify for the training cum employment under NARS: a) with valid nurse license issued by the PRC b) not over 35 years old c) resident of the identified municipalities d) no nursing-related practice for 1-3 years.

Roque said qualified applicants may apply online at http//www.nars.dole.gov.ph, or at the nearest DOLE regional office from 23 February 2009 to 31 March 2009.

Nurse applicants who are children of workers affected by the global crisis will be given priority in the selection, he said.

souce: Information and Publication Service

Yesterday, DOLE announced that the government is trying their best to assist businesses and promote growth so that it can create more job openings. Today, DOLE and more than 3 social partners expressed their help in the cause and joined hands with the government’s goal.

DOLE cites 3+ Social Partners for joining hands against global financial crisis

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque, has cited the social partners for affirming their support to continuing business growth and the need to preserve jobs and sustain opportunities during the recent multi-sectoral job summit in Malacañan.

The Labor and Employment Chief particularly cited the top leaders representing the labor, management, government and other sectors (or the 3+ Social Partners) of the country for signing in the joint Communique, affirming their support to safety net measures and livelihood assistance in support of affected workers, the facilitation of up to 1.4 million in job opportunities, emphasizing the need to allocate at least 1.5% of the estimated P1.4 trillion 2009 operating budget of the Philippines’ government agencies in the fight to mitigate and push back the global crisis’ effects.

Specifically, the 3+ social partners affirmed livelihood assistance in support of affected local and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the following projects of key government agencies: P402 million under the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program, and P50 million under its Reintegration Program along with a P1 billion Loan Portfolio under the DOLE-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund; complemented by the Land Bank of the Philippines’ P1 billion “LBP Negosyo Program for Global Financial Crisis Affected Workers” and the Development Bank of the Philippines Livelihood Program; and P1.38 billion under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Livelihood Investment for displaced workers in the uplands.

They also backed a target of up to 1.4 million in both local job opportunities through various government and private sector initiatives, along with overseas jobs.

These include around 23,550 jobs under the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) and Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement of Fisher Folks (ISLA) programs; along with 35,000 Jobs for Bantay-Gubat and other DENR projects for the upland displaced workers; 36,500 jobs from the Farm-to-Market Road Projects, 81,134 from Irrigation Projects, 10,400 from Organic Fertilizer Production Project, and 3,645 from the Goat Dispersal Project all of the Department of Agriculture; 27,222 jobs from the Out-of-School Youth (OYSTER) Program -Roadside Maintenance along with 506,082 other jobs from the Department of Public Works and Highways; 100,000 jobs from the Repair of Classrooms and School Buildings of the Department of Education and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); and 1,022 jobs from the Laguna Water Lily Development of the Department of Trade and Industry.

On top of the government job targets, the sectors also supported the creation of some 80,000 to 100,000 job opportunities among the member firms of the crucial Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and other jobs expected to be created in industries of the country which remain buoyant, like food manufacturing, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare.

Along with local jobs, they also backed the DOLE’s efforts, hand-in-hand with the country’s recruitment, manning industry and trade unions, to fill up 400,000 opportunities based on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) registered active job orders from abroad.

The 3+ social partners also jointly supported the fast and efficient access of displaced workers to local government unit (LGU)-based One-Stop Worker Assistance Centers in strategic municipalities/cities as well as in the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA), alongside the vigorous pursuit of public-private sector partnerships to facilitate placement/training and retooling of affected workers.

Roque, in particular, thanked some 138 top labor, business, government and other leaders who converged in the successful summit in Malacañang, for affirming their support as one to the country’s efforts against the global crisis — including the representatives of more than 20 major labor groups, local and foreign business chambers, top corporations and banks, the academe, along with the country’s legislative branch, key officials of various Departments and agencies, other sectors.

They included Federation of Free Workers national president Attorney Allan S. Montaño, Tony Asper and other key FFW labor leaders; Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-AWATU national president Temistocles Dejon, Jr. and other key TUCP labor leaders; Associated and Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) president Gregorio Oca, Jr.; Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services (TUPAS) secretary general Vladimir R. Tupaz, National Labor Union (NLU) president Dave Diwa, Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA) president Esperanza A. Ocampo; Congressman Magtanggol Gunigundo who is the Chair of the House Committee on Labor; Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. president John K. Tan and other FFCCCII officials; Employers Confederation of the Philippines chair Attorney Miguel B. Varela, ECOP president Edgardo Lacson, ECOP/ASPROE governor Rene E. Cristobal and other key leaders of both the ECOP and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PCCI); key representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AMCHAM); Japanese Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines president Toshifumi Inami; key representatives of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines; Indian Chamber of Commerce president Ram Sitaldas; key persons from the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI); top corporate leaders from the SM Shoemart, San Miguel Corporation (SMC); Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing; EEI Corporation; Land Bank of the Philippines, Banco De Oro, Bank of the Philippine Islands, the Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank; academic leaders from schools such as De La Salle University (DLSU), Far Eastern University (FEU), and Centro Escolar University (CEU); key government officials representing major government Departments and agencies; and others.

source: Information and Publication Service

This is a good news as we can see the action being made by the government so that our country won’t be in shatters.

Amidst global crisis: Business, gov’t commit to promote business growth to preserve, create jobs

Amidst the global economic downturn, the business sector and government along with other stakeholders committed to intently pursue concrete and workable solutions aimed at providing an environment that sustains business viability and growth in order to strengthen the economy’s capacity to preserve and generate jobs and provide support to affected workers, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque today said.

Roque said the social partners and stakeholders representing business, academe, church, non-government and government organizations signed a Communique expressing their commitment to cooperate and support business growth as a measure in helping workers and industries cope with the global crisis at the multi-sectoral summit held in Malacañang, Monday (Feb. 9).

He said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo initiated the summit, dubbed “Joining Hands Against the Global Crisis,” to strengthen the country’s resiliency and preparedness to cope with the economic downturn by ensuring the viability and growth of business.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Trade and Industry (DTI) jointly organized the summit held at the Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace.

The DOLE Chief said the multi-sectoral summit was part of the government’s efforts to preserve and generate jobs and provide safety nets to affected workers and industries.

He said the social partners believed that the current crisis could still provide new opportunities for investment areas that would be necessary in employment preservation and generation.

He hailed the social partners for agreeing to support efforts aimed at ensuring an environment that would promote business growth as this would, in turn, save and generate jobs as well as provide safety nets to Filipino workers affected by the crisis.

In this Communique, he said, the partners specified their support to efforts that would reduce the cost of doing business by, among others, automation of import/export processing and payment, reduction in the costs of business licenses and permits, and relaxation of criteria for extension of income tax holiday.

The social partners also called for policies that would improve marketing of products especially in the herbal and health and wellness industry and other sectors which are expected to grow despite the crisis.

Roque said the government is ready to provide assistance on research and development to improve marketing of local products adding the effort would certainly boost employment generation.

The social partners, he added, likewise sought policies that would curb smuggling and at the same time ease access to credit and provide tax breaks and incentives to business particularly industries that have been affected adversely by the global financial crisis.

He said providing tax breaks to distressed firms would help industry preserve jobs while at the same time providing these firms the needed capital for them to surmount the difficulties brought about by the crisis, thereby, boosting efforts to sustain demand and the economy as a whole.

source: Information and Publication Service