Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the decrease in the country’s unemployment rate from 4.1 percent in May 2024 to 3.1 percent in June 2024.
But, Villanueva lamented that underemployment is still a “critical issue” that requires government attention.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported an increase in underemployment to 12.1 percent (6.08 million Filipinos) in June 2024 from 9.9 percent (4.82 million Filipinos) in May 2024.
This highlights the persistent issue of job-skills mismatch and quality of jobs, according to the senator from Bulacan.
Villanueva said the passage of Senate Bill No. 2587 or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act will close the skills gap with employer needs.
“The bill, a priority measure of the administration, aims to boost the skills of our workforce through general EBET training, apprenticeship and upskilling, which duration shall vary depending on the complexity of the skills and competencies to be learned by a trainee,” he also said.
“It further aims to encourage more enterprises to undertake EBET programs by ensuring their active involvement in its promotion and conduct, as well as thru the provision of streamlined processes for EBET program registration, enhanced incentives, and support mechanisms.”
Villanueva said the EBET Framework Act will complement the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act in synergizing the government’s efforts in solving employment woes in the country.IMT
