On 09 October 2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) conducted a courtesy meeting to Hon. Bienvenido Laguesma, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment, at DOLE Main Office in Intramuros, Manila. Along with the Secretary, Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez and Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Añover warmly accommodated the representatives of CFBCI namely: President Samuel Lee Uy, Director William Rogando, Vice Chairman Jimmy Ang, and Vice Chairman Kesterson Kua.

CFBCI was overwhelmed with the utmost hospitality and generosity of Sec. Laguesma in terms of sharing DOLE’s recent initiatives, particularly, in fostering public-private sector partnership and enhancing the employability of the Filipino youth. Among several topics discussed are the DOLE’s “Special Program for the Employment of Students” (SPES) and its internship program. Sec. Laguesma also proudly talked about DOLE’s “Jobstart Program” which provides Filipino youth with excellent career coaching, life skills and technical trainings, and internships with competent employers from a wide range of industries.

At present, jobs in the fields of cybersecurity, information technology (IT) in health care, transport, and logistics are becoming increasingly in demand. Thus, the Department commits itself in providing sufficient assistance to Filipinos so they can receive proper technical training and increase their employability. Moreover, attendees from CFBCI were very perceptive as Sec. Laguesma talked about the present efforts of DOLE to assist individuals and groups in launching their own livelihood projects including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

With these efforts, local companies are becoming more inclined to cooperate and collaborate with DOLE. “Kinakausap namin lahat ng grupo,” said Sec. Laguesma. President Samuel Lee Uy supported his view that the perspective of Filipinos towards the Department is positively changing. As of today, a total of one hundred (100) private sector companies have been working closely with DOLE to provide work opportunities to young Filipinos. DOLE is also active in conducting Technical Assistance Visits to assist local companies in complying with requirements and standards. “Information and education is power,” said Sec. Laguesma.

CFBCI officers took turns in asking questions from Sec. Laguesma, and the honorable Secretary did not fail to share his expert knowledge and advice to them. He is advocating for clear communication between employers and their employees to prevent conflicts, and that seeking legal advice/services must be a priority for companies and not just a contingency plan when problems arise. CFBCI agreed to Sec. Laguesma’s advice that companies must also regularly assess their wage compensation system, and closely monitor the performance of their employees.

In conclusion, the courtesy meeting successfully paved the way for a productive exchange of insights between the two parties. CFBCI is committing itself to become one of the active collaborators of DOLE in preserving and creating more jobs for Filipinos. CFBCI is looking forward to inviting Sec. Laguesma in an open forum in the year 2025.

菲華工商總會訊：本會理事長黃書瑋偕同董事杜祖蔭，常務理事洪海濱、柯偉順律師及西文秘書梅西卡，於十月九日（星期三）上午，前往位於馬尼拉市王城區的菲律濱勞工部（Department of Labor and Employment簡稱DOLE）總部進行禮訪，受到部長拉藝斯馬（Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma）、次長貝納維德斯（Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez）及司長亞諾比爾律師（Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Añover）等官員熱情接待，並在部長辦公室進行了座談。

拉藝斯馬部長首先向本會領導同仁介紹勞工部的「就業啟動計劃」，該計劃係提供菲律濱青年專業職場指導、生活技能和技術培訓，及提供到各廠商公司實習的機會。他補充說，目前，網路安全、醫療保健、運輸、物流及資訊科技（IT）等領域的工作需求越來越大，有鑒於此，勞工部就以上工作，致力提供足夠的援助，以利本國年輕人能夠受到專業的技術培訓，提高就業率。並指出，目前已有百家私人企業與勞工部密切合作，提供就業機會。

黃理事長書瑋致詞感謝拉藝斯馬部長等勞工部官員在百忙中撥冗接見，並向部長簡介了本會的概況，同時對勞工部在促進公私夥伴關係和提高菲律濱青年就業所做的各方面努力表示肯定與讚揚。
座談中，雙方也討論了多項重要議題，包括勞工部的「學生就業特別計劃」（SPES）及其實習計劃；勞工部為協助個人和團體開展生計方案，包括微型、小型和中型企業 （MSME）及向公司企業提供專業技術援助等，創造更多就業機會交換意見。本會領導同仁也針對議題提出各自的疑問和意見，並得到拉藝斯馬部長等人的詳盡解答和關注。

雙方在經過深入交流之後，本會與勞工部正擬定各項合作方案。最後本會出席領導向部長拉藝斯馬贈送紀念會徽和本會二十週年特刊，並合影留念。

圖片說明：
上左圖：理事長黃書瑋（左）與部長拉藝斯馬（右）交流中。
上右圖：雙方在部長辦公室進行座談。
下圖：向勞工部贈送本會會徽和成立二十週年紀念特刊（左起）梅西卡，柯偉順律師，黃書瑋，部長拉藝斯馬，杜祖蔭，次長貝納維德斯，司長亞諾比爾律師，洪海濱。