CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) got about 30,000 pledges to support the working youth under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).
This figure was based on the SPES pledges submitted by the different Public Employment Service Offices in Central Luzon.
“As early as January, our PESOs have facilitated the screening, matching, and selection process of SPES aspirants in close coordination with their respective local government units (LGUs) and participating firms from the private sector,” DOLE Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita said.
“To date, the final listing of qualified beneficiaries is now being prepared and would be subjected to final orientation and briefing for the eventual start of their employment in the coming weeks,” she added.
Under SPES, participating students and out-of-school youth will be working for around 20-28 working days.
They will be receiving salaries based on the prevailing minimum and applicable LGU wage-rates in the region.
“For this year’s SPES implementation, DOLE Regional Office has allocated Php111, 434,738.93, representing government’s share for the student’s salary. The remaining 60 percent share will be shouldered by participating private companies and National Government Agencies while participating LGUs’ approved-share will be based on their corresponding classification,” Angara-Campita explained.
Around 445 employers comprising 301 private firms, 129 LGUs, 3 national government agencies, 5 non-governmental organizations, 2 state universities and colleges, and 5 private schools are participating this year. (CLJD-PIA 3)