DOLE inks partnership with Aboitiz Group for JobStart Philippines implementation

Left photo: DOLE Secretary Laguesma (2nd from the left) signs MOU with Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz (3rd from the left) for the implementation of JobStart Philippines, witnessed by DOLE Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres and Aboitiz Chief External Relations Officer David Jude Sta. Ana

In support of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) JobStart Philippines (JSP) program, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sabin Aboitiz signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 25 May 2023, at the Aboitiz Group office in Bonifacio Global City.

As the Aboitiz Group undergoes its Great Transformation to become the country’s first Techglomerate, it is leveraging technology and innovation to find better ways of advancing businesses and communities. With business units in six of the biggest sectors in the country, the Aboitiz Group was identified by DOLE as a strategic partner in the implementation of JobStart, which aims to shorten the school-to-work transition of young Filipinos who are not in education, employment, or training (youth NEET) by providing them with career coaching, life skills and technical training, and paid internships with major employers.

Partnership lies at the core of JobStart. A full implementation cycle begins and ends with strengthening its relationship with partner employers that facilitate the most crucial stages of a new jobseeker’s path to productive and decent employment.  DOLE expressed its gratitude to Aboitiz Group for choosing to take part in the Department’s mission of economic development by improving the employability of young Filipinos and shortening their job search period.

The goal for this partnership is to give every young Filipino the opportunities they need to be future-ready in the world of work. Under JobStart, beneficiaries undergo a full-cycle employment facilitation program that begins with life skills training aimed at developing their soft skills, enabling them to plan better their career path and deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life and work. Afterward, they are referred to partner employers for technical training required by industries and paid internships for work experience. 

Since JobStart’s pilot implementation in 2014, there have been around 29,000 beneficiaries who availed of the program services nationwide. The local government units’ (LGU) Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) serve as the implementing arm of the program. JobStart already has 52 partner LGUs nationwide, with 16 areas implementing this year.

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