A TOTAL of 18,354 students got temporary employment in the first half of the year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday.

In a news release, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the agency’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) gives students practical exposure to the necessary knowledge and skills for the current job market.

“Through the training and internship that the company offers, beneficiaries gain hands-on experience in real-world environments, industry-specific skills, professional development, and mentorship. When we invest in our youth, especially those in the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, we provide them with the tools and the support they need to reach their full potential,” he added.

Laguesma noted that the number is expected to increase as the DOLE recently signed an agreement with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) Philippines to hire more students under the SPES.

Under the Memorandum of Agreement on the program’s enhanced implementation signed at the DOLE Central Office in Intramuros, Manila on July 4, the fast-food company will hire about 900 disadvantaged youth aiming to pursue their studies.

Laguesma said the partnership is aligned with the government’s job generation agenda under the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and the outcomes of the recently concluded 2024 National Employment Summit.

He likewise underscored the importance of promoting youth employability through education and training aligned with industry requirements through the support of private sector employers.

Meanwhile, JFC Philippines chief human resources officer Ruth Angeles said their company is committed to contributing to nation-building by providing meaningful employment, especially for less privileged students.

The SPES is a youth employment-bridging program that provides short-term employment to poor students, out-of-school youths, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during school breaks to augment the family’s income and ensure that beneficiaries can pursue their education.

At the same time, the DOLE also reported that the top front-line services availed of by clients in 2023 were related to occupational safety and health permits, employment of foreign nationals, and livelihood assistance applications.

Based on the DOLE Client Satisfaction Measurement Report for 2023, the top five key front-line services based on the number of clients served are:

• issuance of a letter of approval/ disapproval of the Construction Safety and Health Program application;
• application for Alien Employment Permit (new/renewal);
• registration of establishment under Rule 1020 of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards;
• application for livelihood project assistance; and
• conduct of Technical Safety Inspection for the Issuance of a Permit to Operate Mechanical Installation/Certificate of Electrical Inspection.

Overall, the department’s delivery of front-line services received an “outstanding” rating or a 99.72 percent client satisfaction rating from 166,667 clients who responded to the survey last year.

The majority of the responses, or 97.23 percent, were from the DOLE’s regional offices. (PNA)