AN ACT DEFINING THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE)

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 10691

Establishment of Public Employment Service Office (PESO)
- PESOs shall be established in all provinces, cities, and municipalities, operated and maintained by LGUs. (Section 1)
- PESOs shall be linked to DOLE regional offices for coordination and technical supervision, and to DOLE central office for national public employment service network. (Section 1)
- PESOs shall be under the office of the governor, city or municipal mayor, initially organized by a PESO manager and may be assisted by a labor and employment officer (LEO). (Section 1)
- Upon request, DOLE may enter into a memorandum of agreement with accredited NGOs or EIs to establish, operate and maintain a PESO and a job placement office, respectively. (Section 1)
- PESOs at NGOs and job placement offices in EIs shall coordinate their activities with the appropriate LGU PESO. (Section 1)

Functions of the PESO
- Encourage employers to submit job vacancies to facilitate labor market information exchange and provide employment information services to job seekers, both for local and overseas employment, and recruitment assistance to employers. (Section 2)
- Develop and administer testing and evaluation instruments for effective job selection, training and counselling. (Section 2)
- Provide access to livelihood and self-employment programs offered by government and non-government organizations by undertaking referrals. (Section 2)
- Undertake employability enhancement trainings or seminars for job seekers and those who would like to change career or enhance their employability. (Section 2)
- Provide employment or occupational counselling, career guidance, mass motivation and values development activities. (Section 2)
- Conduct pre-employment counselling and orientation to prospective local and overseas workers. (Section 2)
- Provide reintegration assistance services to returning Filipino migrant workers. (Section 2)
- Prepare and submit to the local sanggunian an annual employment plan and budget including other regular funding sources and budgetary support of the PESO. (Section 2)
- Perform such functions as to fully carry out the objectives of this Act. (Section 2)
- Undertake holistic strategies, programs and activities to transform the PESO into a modern public employment service intermediary that provides multi-dimensional employment facilitation services. (Section 3)

Role of DOLE and LGUs
- DOLE shall provide technical supervision, coordination and capacity-building to the PESO. (Section 4)
- DOLE shall establish and maintain a computerized human resource and job registries to facilitate employment assistance and setting-up of intra- and inter­regional job clearance systems. (Section 4)
- DOLE shall provide technical assistance and allied support services to the PESO including training of PESO personnel. (Section 4)
- DOLE shall set standards for the establishment and operation of the PESO office, and qualification standards for the PESO personnel. (Section 4)
- DOLE shall extend other packages of employment services to the LGU, NGO or EI concerned, including the conduct of job fairs, career development seminars, and other activities. (Section 4)
- DOLE shall monitor, assess, and evaluate the performance of the PESOs, including the job placement offices in EIs. (Section 4)
- Job seekers, particularly the unemployed, shall register at the PESO for employment facilitation assistance. (Section 4)
- Establishments shall submit their job vacancies as well as applicants hired to the PESO to ensure the availability of accurate information on supply and demand for skills in the labor market. (Section 4)
- LGUs shall establish a monitoring system wherein establishments operating in the locality shall report relevant labor market information to the concerned office of the LGU. (Section 4)
- LGUs shall operate and maintain the PESO. (Section 4)
- LGUs shall ensure compliance with the operational standards set by the DOLE. (Section 4)
- LGUs shall extend such assistance and services as may be necessary in the promotion of employment within the area of jurisdiction. (Section 4)
- LGUs shall submit to the DOLE periodic performance and accomplishment reports. (Section 4)

Funding
- Funding for the operation and maintenance of the PESO shall be provided by the LGU from its internal revenue allotment and other internally generated income. (Section 5)
- Operation and maintenance of the NGO PESOs and job placement offices of EIs shall be charged against their internally generated income. (Section 5)
- Funds for the provision of technical assistance, training and supervision of the PESO shall be included in the budget of the DOLE in the annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 5)
- The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be included by the Department of Budget and Management in the annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 5)

Other Provisions
- The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity. (Section 6)
- If any section or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder shall not be affected by such declaration. (Section 7)
- All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 8)
- This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. (Section 9)