Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10691)
The primary purpose of the PESO is to facilitate the exchange of labor market information between job seekers and employers, provide employment information services including recruitment assistance for local and overseas employment, and support employment facilitation functions coordinated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Local Government Units (LGUs) are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the PESO in all provinces, cities, and municipalities.
The PESO is linked to the regional offices of DOLE for coordination and technical supervision and to the DOLE central office to constitute the national public employment service network. It also coordinates with accredited NGOs and educational institutions that operate PESOs or job placement offices within their jurisdiction.
Key functions include: encouraging employers to submit job vacancies, developing testing and evaluation tools, providing access to livelihood programs, conducting employability enhancement training, offering employment counseling and career guidance, conducting pre-employment and overseas worker orientation, providing reintegration assistance to returning migrants, preparing annual employment plans and budgets, and performing other functions to fulfill the objectives of the Act.
DOLE provides technical supervision, coordination, capacity-building, establishes computerized human resource and job registries, provides technical assistance and training, sets operational and personnel standards, extends employment service packages, and monitors, assesses, and evaluates the performance of PESOs.
Yes. Upon the request of accredited NGOs or educational institutions (EIs), DOLE may enter into a memorandum of agreement to allow these entities to establish, operate, and maintain PESOs and job placement offices, respectively.
Funding comes from the LGU's internal revenue allotment and other internally generated income. For PESOs operated by NGOs and job placement offices in educational institutions, funding shall come from their internally generated income. DOLE's technical assistance and supervision are funded through allocations in the General Appropriations Act.
Employers are encouraged to regularly submit a list of job vacancies and the list of hired applicants to the PESO to ensure accurate labor market information and facilitate job matching.
LGUs must establish a monitoring system where establishments report the present number and nature of jobs and projected jobs for the next five years to the concerned LGU office. This information is then submitted to the PESO for job matching and to educational institutions for student career guidance.
A PESO shall initially be organized and composed of a PESO manager and may be assisted by a labor and employment officer (LEO), as determined by the LGU.
Persons seeking employment, particularly the unemployed, are required to register with the PESO to avail themselves of employment facilitation assistance.
The Secretary of Labor and Employment is mandated to issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.
The law contains a separability clause which provides that if any section or provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected by such declaration.
RA 10691 amends Sections 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 of RA 8759 by defining the roles of DOLE, LGUs, and accredited NGOs in the establishment and operation of PESO, enhancing its functions and funding mechanisms, and providing for coordination with educational institutions.
RA 10691 took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, following its approval on October 26, 2015.