TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 12
DOLE partners with
3M Philippines
for safe, healthy
workforce
T
he labor department
has partnered with the
global science company,
3M Philippines in
promoting occupational
safety and health (OSH)
to further ensure a
healthy and productive
workforce.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello
III said the partnership is focused
on the provision of joint trainings and advocacy campaigns,
and information and technical resource sharing for enhanced
enforcement of the OSH standards to advance the overall well-
being of Filipino workers across all industries.
“The purpose of the agreement is to pursue cooperative projects,
programs, and initiatives geared towards developing and sustaining
a culture of safe, healthy, and productive workforce, which is a key
ingredient towards sustained development,” Bello said.
Under the signed agreement, 3M Philippines will provide
advance technical trainings and expertise on the appropriate
usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to DOLE personnel,
specifically the labor inspectors who conduct technical safety
inspections.
Also, a joint policy research will be conducted for the
development of OSH policies and regulations to further sustain
a culture of safe and healthy workforce by upholding just and
humane working conditions.
“Ensuring the safety of our workers is among our top priorities
and we hope that this partnership will bring positive result
and develop stronger cooperation for enhanced promotion of
occupational safety and health,” Bello said.
3M Philippines is a global science company that uses 46
technology platforms with integrated team of scientists and
researchers in creating innovations and breakthroughs to improve
the daily lives of people all over the world.
www.dole.gov.ph
PH-Japan labor
cooperation pact
signed
T
he governments of the
Philippines and Japan
on Tuesday signed
a Memorandum of
Cooperation (MOC)
providing better
protection on the
recruitment and
deployment of Filipino workers to
be hired under a new specified skills
residency in Japan.
The labor cooperation pact, signed in Tokyo by Labor Secretary
Silvestre Bello III and Japanese Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita,
aims to strengthen the cooperation of both countries in eliminating
malicious intermediary organizations, known as illegal recruiters
for the smooth facilitation of sending and accepting workers from
Philippines.
“Ensuring the welfare and security of our Filipino skilled workers
is among the priorities of the government and this agreement
is geared towards a more secure process of recruitment and
deployment of specified skilled workers in Japan,” Bello said.
Bello has estimated that Filipino workers would corner at least
30 percent of the 350,000 available jobs Japan is opening to foreign
workers effective April 11.
The memorandum seeks to establish a basic partnership
framework for the "proper operation of the system pertaining to
foreign human resources" with the status of residence of "specified
skilled worker" who possess certain expertise and skills in certain
job categories.
Among the specified skills include those in health care, building
maintenance, food services, industrial machinery, electronics, food
manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, construction, shipbuilding,
fisheries and aquaculture, parts and tooling and aviation.
Under the agreement, Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) will serve as the country’s contact points in
the processing and accreditation while the verification of skilled
workers’ documents, coordination onsite and welfare concerns are
under the supervision of Philippine Labor Overseas Labor Office
(POLO) – Japan.
The necessary requirement to be hired as a specified skilled
worker includes passing the skill level tests and Japanese
proficiency, which will be administered by the Japan Foundation in
the Philippines.
Workers who will be hired as specified skilled workers can stay in
Japan for a maximum of five years under the Specified Skills No. 1
visa status and possible to receive Specified Skills No. 2 if the worker
obtained a higher level of specialization.
As of June 2018, there are around 280,000 Filipinos residing and
working in Japan of which 34,003 are professional and highly skilled
workers.
www.dole.gov.ph
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