News Release (Draft)

Department of Labor and Employment

31 July 2014

DOLE on top of providing local employment contingency for repatriated OFWs

from Libya

Amidst the massive repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) brought about by
the civil unrest in Libya, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz
yesterday announced that the DOLE has set up a package of comprehensive
assistance and services to ensure that returning OFWs are immediately integrated in
the mainstream of Philippine society.
It is true that many OFWs are hesitant to come home even if the country where they
work are in the middle of crisis, or are experiencing political conflict because of their
apprehension of being dislocated. The Assist WELL Program aims to address this
concern, Baldoz said, as she pitched on the DOLEs Assist WELL Program.
A component of the National Reintegration Program for OFWs, the DOLE adopted the
Assist WELL Program to ensure the successful reintegration of OFWs repatriated from
crisis or emergency situations, pursuant to relevant alert level systems of the national
government.
It is true that many OFWs are hesitant to come home even if the country where they
work are in the middle of crisis, or are experiencing political conflict because of their
apprehension of being dislocated. The Assist WELL Program aims to address this
concern, she added.
Among the many services under the Assist WELL Program is the use of Enhanced PhilJob.net (E-PJN), the government's web-based job matching facility and labor market
information portal.
In a report of Bureau of Local Employment Director Dominique Rubia-Tutay, OFW
repatriates from Libya may access the E-PJN and efficiently look for the right job on a
24/7 basis, for free.
Tutay bared the step-by-step process in using the E-PJN facility, as such:
First: Access the www.phil-jobnet.dole.gov.ph;

Second: For job seekers searching for vacancies of companies, go to "find the right
job" at the upper right corner. Type the desired occupation or company and then click
"search;

Third: For job seekers who want to view job orders overseas, go to "our services" at the
lower left portion and click "Job Orders (overseas); and
Fourth: For registered and accredited companies of E-PJN, you can view the masterlist
of displaced workers at the lower right portion. You need to use your designated
username account (email address) and TIN to access the profile of workers.
According to Tutay, the Phil-JobNet has functioned continuously for more than a decade
since it was first launched in 1998. "In 2012, the BLE started to enhance the system to
make it more user-friendly, functional, utilitarian, and inter-active.
"The E-PJN is now the leading job search and job and skills matching portal in the
Philippines, with its private sector partners closely trailing behind," Tutay said.
As of 31 July, the E-PJN has a 65,939 list of vacancies reaching; 1,340,616 job
applicants registered; and 285 skills-for-hire posted. On the other hand, JobsDB.com
has 105,940 and JobStreet.com.ph has 42,282 job vacancies. Both online portals are
linked with the old Phil-JobNet website.
Toward this end, the labor and employment chief rallied for recently repatriated OFWs
to stay in the country in the meantime.
"We continue to intensify our efforts in providing all necessary intervention for the safe
and smooth return of OFWs from Libya. We are ready for their arrival and subsequent
reintegration in their home country, Baldoz said.
We have many job opportunities for our OFWs here. Opportunities that will help them
move forward in life; and aside from giving a boost in our local economy, they will also
have the chance to work while being with their families, she finally said.
END/hjtg