Day: April 3, 2022

The Commission on Audit (COA) commended the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) programs that address the concerns of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) for 2021.

In its audit observation memorandum released recently, COA recognized, among others, DOLE’s employment facilitation of 3,176 PWD job seekers and 74,361 senior citizens.

COA also commended DOLE’s support to the elderlies and the differently-abled persons’ participation in union activities which recorded an almost 30 percent sectoral representation in the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council.

Under the Department’s labor relations program, 15,779 union officers and members, including senior citizens and PWDs, were provided with training under the Workers Organization and Development Program.

COA also cited DOLE’s accomplishments in assisting over 1 million workers, employers, and graduating students, including senior citizens and PWDs, through its Labor and Employment Education Services.

A total of 558 PWDs and 1,475 senior citizens were given livelihood assistance amounting to P9.5 million and P23 million, respectively, under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.

COA likewise recogized the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disdvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program which assisted 2,791 PWDs and 53,837 senior citizens with P16 million and P258 million cash aid.

The Department’s legal service to 49 senior citizens and six PWDs on employment and other labor issues through the DOLE-Public Assistance and Complaints Unit likewise earned COA’s nod.

Lastly, COA lauded DOLE’s public awareness activities, such as publishing news releases in print and online media, for “creating awareness on the assistance for senior citizens and PWDs amid the pandemic.”

“We commend the [DOLE] management’s regular activities, plans, programs, and projects that address the concerns of the senior citizens and persons with disabilities,” COA said.

The COA, through Audit Observation Memorandum No. 2022-09, has recognized the compliance of the Department with Section 33 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No. 1158 or the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

“We have come a long way in our journey towards realizing our responsibility as duty bearers for society’s marginalized and vulnerable sectors. By implementing our programs for our elderlies and differently-abled persons, we are one in recognizing their competence, empowering them, and enhancing their capabilities as we strive towards creating a more inclusive labor force,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

Bello urged the various services, bureaus, and regional offices of the Department to continuously strengthen the implementation of its programs and services and ensure inclusivity to effectively respond to the concerns and needs of senior citizens and PWDs.

 

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) of the Department of Labor and Employment reminds all private establishments to submit their Annual Establishment Report on Wages (AERW) through the online portal annualwagereport.nwpc.dole.gov.ph.

 

Article 124 of the Labor Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, requires establishments to submit an annual report on “a verified itemized listing of their labor component, specifying the names of their workers and employees below the managerial level, including learners, apprentices and disabled/handicapped workers who were hired under the terms prescribed in the employment contracts, and their corresponding salaries and wages.”

 

For calendar year 2021, the report containing the aforementioned details as of 31 December 2021 shall be submitted online within the period 11 April 2022 to 30 June 2022. Thereafter, submission shall not be later than 31st of January of the following year (e.g. for calendar year 2022, submission shall not be later than 31 January 2023).

 

The centralized online submission of AERW is an integral part of the NWPC’s digitization initiatives to ensure a more efficient collection of administrative-based data on wages. It replaces the paper/physical submission of establishment report to the 16 Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards.

 

Other related concerns may be emailed to wage.report@produktiboatsahod.onmicrosoft.com. You may also contact the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in your area.

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

On 1 April 2022, H.E. Mr. Mark Gooding, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Thailand paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of Ambassador’s assumption of duty.

 

Both sides welcomed the close and cordial relationship between the two countries, which spans more than 400 years, and also discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation in various areas with upcoming planned trips to London by the Thai delegation including the 4th Strategic Dialogue and the 1st Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).

 

Furthermore, both sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment through the defence and security, digital technology, public health, and education. Both sides also exchanged views on various regional issues of mutual interest.

 

The UK side has extended an invitation to the Thai side to participate at the Safe To Be Me: A Global Equality Conference to be held on 29 June – 1 July 2022 in London, which is the UK’s first ever global LGBT conference, focusing on promoting equality for the LGBT community around the world.

 

 

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand