The Quezon City government, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), hosted a seven-day registration program for qualified QC youths who will undergo career development services and a series of training as the city government beefs up efforts to expand the employment market of the city’s youth under the JobStart Philippine program.
A total of 422 QC youths participated in the registration. Of the total, 150 shall be randomly selected to proceed to life skills, technical and on-the-job trainings.
On orders of Mayor Herbert Bautista, the city’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) was tasked to oversee the registration process, which was held from March 2 to 5, at Farmers Plaza in Cubao and from March 9 to 11 at the QC Hall.
Under the Jobstart Philippines program, youths who are 18-24 year old, unemployed and no longer studying and with no more than year of job experience, are given full-cycle employment facilitation service to increase their level of competency and competitiveness in the labor market.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bautista underscored the vital role that employers play in the program since they will be the one to recommend and develop the appropriate technical training for every beneficiary and subsequently provide the on-the-job training in their workplaces.
QC hosted the first wave of registration in April 2014 that resulted in the selection of 1,519 youth beneficiaries. Of the total, 1,226 underwent life skills training and 469 progressed to internship.
During the internship, program beneficiaries shall be provided with a daily allowance of P300. A stipend equivalent to at least 75% of the prevailing minimum wage shall be given during the on-the-job training or internship, which can run for at least six months.
Employers, once engaged by Jobstart, will also be receiving subsidy of up to P9,000 per intern for their participation in the program while given the chance to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility by helping young people become job ready.
Aside from Quezon City , JobStart, which is being funded by the Canadian Government and administered through the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has already been pilot-tested in San Fernando , Pampanga; Taguig City and General Trias, Cavite .
Interested QC employers may contact the QC-PESO at qcpeso@gmail.com or at telephone number 988-42-42 local 8436 for more details.
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
