A Refresher Training Course for DOLE Call Center Assistance Officers and Support Staff was held this year to help revisit labor and employment topics and build on the agents’ existing knowledge, which will help them feel more confident, make less mistakes and improve overall efficiency in delivering public service at the Hotline 1349. The Bureau of Local Employment, through its Labor Market Information Division Chief Grace A. Baldoza as resource speaker, participated in the two batches of trainings held on 24 and 29 March 2023 at the View Park Hotel, Calamba Road, Tagaytay City.
The DOLE 1394 is a 24/7 hotline launched under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. It caters to the concerns of the public with regards to labor and employment. Majority of the concerns that the hotline had catered to was on social protection and welfare, including proper computations of night shift differential, overtime pay, holiday pay, and 13th month pay.
Various Bureaus and Offices of the Department of Labor and Employment also attended the refresh course to share their knowledge in their respective fields. The DOLE- Bureau of Working Conditions shared their knowledge about the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Telecommuting Act, Employee’s Final Pay, and 13th Month Pay. The Legal Service on the other hand presented the rules and regulations regarding Separation Pay, Expanded Maternity Leave Law, and Jurisdictions on Kasambahay Law and Service Charge. The National Wages and Productivity Commission and PLDT were also present to discuss topics regarding Minimum Wage, Factor Rate and Wage Distortion, and The Essentials of Call Center and Understanding Customers, respectively.
The BLE LMID Chief shared the different programs and services that the Bureau offers, covering Youth Employment Programs, Public Employment Services, Labor Market Information Systems, Local Employment Regulation.
“These programs and services also serve as the Department’s contributions to the wider intent of increasing the employability of Filipino workers and expanding access to employment opportunities under an enabling environment based on lifelong learning and shared labor market governance, as enshrined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.”
The refresher training course is a capacity-buidling activity that the Information and Publication Service holds regularly to help the DOLE Call Center agents to revisit policies and enhance their knowledge on the different programs and services of the Department. ###