DOLE orients hotel, restaurant industry on Workers Organization Development Program

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin, October 16 — The Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE-), through its Camiguin Provincial Field Office conducted the Workers’ Organization and Development Program training to some 53 participants from the management and labor representatives of the hotels and resorts industry and micro, small and medium enterprise on 23 September 2015 in Cabua-an Beach Resort, this municipality.

Cam PFO OIC Head Arlyn Z. Bael said “WODP serves as a mechanism in strengthening trade unions and other workers’ organizations and provides an opportunity for systemic learning and growth aiming at greater productivity, prosperity and welfare to the employer, workers’ organization and its members and their dependents.”

WODP focuses on developing the capabilities of the workers and their organization to be able to perform their roles effectively and efficiently toward the promotion of trade unionism, workers’ empowerment and sound labor-management relations.

Moreover, DOLE-10 Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante underscored the program’s importance. He said, this provides educational opportunities to officers and members including their dependents for self-development, growth and be effective change agent in their organization and in their personal life.

Labor Laws Compliance Officer (LLCO) Bernadette Hallazgo, said the Workers Income Augmentation Program or WINAP, which is the government’s response to the workers’ problem of sustaining the basic needs of their families due to the adverse effects of structural adjustments in the economy, oil price hikes, and peso strengthening.

“The program is available for rank-and-file wage workers in the formal economy to enable them to establish their own enterprises/business undertakings or enhance their existing businesses thereby providing them and their families with additional source of income,” Hallazgo enlightened.

Further, LLCO Brix Merlin tackled the updates/review of the Labor Standards. He also emphasized the computations on the payment of regular and special holidays.

Marciano Cardiente, planning development officer, also shared the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) which created interest from the participants.

“I encourage the participants to help the Department in the advocacy of our livelihood program as one of the options to augment income considering that the province has very few wage employment opportunities,” said Bael.

The participants gave their full support to DOLE-10. (Jovelyn V. Perez/DOLE-X Camiguin PFO)