DOLE, group to help OFWs get jobs in BPO sector

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) are working together to provide returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with job opportunities in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

In a statement, the DOLE said it would work with the IBPAP —the umbrella organization of BPO firms in the country— for the “productive reintegration” of OFWs and at the same time “fill the demand for additional manpower in the BPO industry.”

Employment opportunities in the industry awaiting those OFW returnees with background in the fields of information technology and healthcare.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the Labor department was seeing the resurgence of the BPO industry as the subsequent global recession will force the “West” to outsource more jobs in the industry, a good size of which will go to the Philippines.

Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay welcomed IBPAP’s initiative and assured the labor department’s support to facilitate the matching between employers and jobseekers.

The DOLE said it would provide the database of OFW returnees who are interested or who are qualified for the job vacancies.

Meanwhile, career marketing activities, initial screening, and job matching will be conducted by IBPAP from August to November, it said.

Tutay said that the DOLE was gearing towards virtual job caravans for easier matching between jobseekers and employers.

National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) OIC-Director Roel Martin said that the partnership would further help the DOLE attached agency in linking OFW returnees, and even their families, for possible employment.

Martin said among the agency's partners in OFW reintegration were SITEL; the Department of Public Works and Highways and DMCI for Build Build Build projects; Mega Sardines; and Motolite.

He also said OFW returnees are referred  to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for retooling and upgrading of their skills.

IBPAP executive director for Talent Development Frankie Antolin said that despite the pandemic there were still numerous IT-BPM job vacancies because it encompasses the fields of contact center; animation and game development; global shared services; financial, IT, and HR shared services; software and IT outsourcing; and health information management system.

She added that OFW returnees have skill sets that are useful in performing jobs in the BPO industry. -NB, GMA News