History

As a ratifying State to ILO Convention 88, the Philippines is mandated to create and maintain a free employment service which shall consist of a national system of employment offices under the direction of a national authority.

This mandate is religiously being carried out by the Department of Labor and Employment through the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).

1952
Creation of the NES

Creation of the National Employment Service (NES) under the Department of Labor and Employment by virtue of Republic Act 761 which operationalizes employment service in the country.

1957
NES Dissolved to give way to OMS

A government reorganization took place and the NES was dissolved to give way to the Office of Manpower Services (OMS).

May 1974
Promulgation of Presidential Decree 442

A major breakthrough came with the promulgation of Presidential Decree 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines. The Bureau of Employment Services (BES) was created as a line Bureau concerned with both local and overseas employment functions.

Extending and widening its network, the BES established forty two (42) Public Employment Offices (PEOs) in various regions with the Central Office in Manila overseeing all activities.

1982
Results of Executive Order No. 797

The year 1982 saw the employment service experiencing structural changes as a result of Executive Order No. 797. The local employment functions of the BES, including the functions of the defunct Bureau of Apprenticeship (BA) were absorbed by the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).

June 16, 1987
Decentralization Policy by Virtue of Administrative Order No. 186

A decentralization policy by virtue of Administrative Order No. 186 was put into force, delegating BLE's line functions to the Regional Offices of the Department of Labor and Employment.

1994
TESDA was created

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was created under RA 7796 (TESDA Act of 1994) which absorbed the Apprenticeship functions of the Bureau of Local Employment. Eleven (11) personnel of the Bureau were transferred to TESDA.

1999
Republic Act 8759 was Enacted

Republic Act 8759 was enacted institutionalizing a National Facilitation Service Network thru the establishment of Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) in every province, key cities and other strategic areas. PESO is a non-fee charging multi-employment service facility or entity. This also serves as an information hub on labor market and employment programs of the DOLE and other entities. The administration of the PESOs is lodged with the Bureau of Local Employment.

The Bureau of Local Employment traces its roots to the National Employment Service (NES) which was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 761 in 1952 to ensure the best possible organization of the employment market as an integral part of the national program for the achievement and maintenance of maximum employment and the development and use of productive resources.

The rationalization and restructuring of the organizational and functional structures of government agencies and instrumentalities led to the changes in the composition and functions of the NES. In 1974, the Bureau of Employment Services (BES) was created to handle local and overseas employment functions. By virtue of Executive Order No. 797 promulgated in 1982, the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) assumed the functions of the Bureau of Apprenticeship and the domestic employment functions of the Bureau of Employment Services.

MISSION

Promote decent work in the Philippines through policy and program development based on timely and accurate labor market information.

VISION

Opportunities to full, decent, and gainful employment for every Filipino jobseeker in an enhanced Philippine labor market..