DOLE 12, stakeholders sign support to workers in informal sector

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Wednesday 23rd of May 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 23 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12 and its partners, including Social Security System (SSS) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) recently signed a commitment of support for workers in the informal economy (WIE).

Chairmaine Dawn Ladot-Sonsona, labor communications officer of DOLE 12, said the signing ceremony on May 18, was in line with the government’s advocacy to promote social protection of those working in the informal sector and to highlight their contribution in the country.

This, she added, was still part of their extended celebration of the Labor Day.

Informal economy, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), “consists of independent, self-employed small-scale producers and distributors of goods and services.”

“Workers in this sector are for the most part not registered or recorded in official statistics and are beyond the reach of social protection and labour legislation,” it added.

At the labor forum where the signing of commitment of support was held, Tetchie Alim, focal person for the livelihood program in the informal sector, explained the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

DILP, she said, provides productive, gainful and secure employment to marginalized and unprotected workers.

Interventions under this program include livelihood enhancement, livelihood formation, and enhancement of income augmenting livelihood.

She explained further that the program will enable existing livelihood undertakings of self-employed workers in the informal economy to grow into viable and sustainable businesses that provide income at par with the minimum wage earners.

On the other hand, those long-term unemployed poor, particularly the youth, women, disabled persons and indigenous peoples in the informal economy are being assisted to engage in livelihood undertakings to make them productive.

The program, she added, also helps those employed in the formal economy who would like to earn income from other sources.

Besides DILP, Alim said, those in the informal economy may also avail of other special programs of DOLE 12 such as the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit (DK Starter Kit) and Negosyo sa Kariton (NegoKart)

DK-Starter Kit, she said, provides complete packages of equipment and tools that could help beneficiaries immediately begin a livelihood undertaking, such as pedicure-manicure business, massage therapy, and others.

Through Nego Kart, marginal workers, especially the ambulant workers in major cities, are provided with a vending cart package with accessory tools that eases their preparation and peddling of their products.

This, she continued, could increase, upgrade and diversify their products and services as well as improve their reach of buyers and customers.

Alim added that such services also cover working capital for procurement marketable goods or services as well as trainings on production skills, entrepreneurship and business management and assistance in securing business permits.

The project is being implemented by the DOLE in partnership with accredited co-partners (ACPs) like the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector.

Representatives from SSS explained to the participants, including 34 informal sector workers, the processes and benefits of the social security while TESDA lecturers presented the their programs and services, including skills training that can be availed by those who would like to learn needed knowledge that could help boost their income-earning capacities. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)