(L-to-R, seated): PAMURI Director Atty. Mimi Malvar, Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres, ECCP President Paulo Duarte, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, ANZCHAM Executive Director Kimmi Siu Dewar, Undersecretary Felipe N. Egargo, Jr. (L-to-R, standing): Directors Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr., and Adeline T. De Castro, AMCHAM-Respond Project Director Randall Garcia, JCCIPI President Shigeru Shimoda, KCCP Director Sunah Kim, AMCHAM Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe, ECCP Director Albert Perez, Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent W. Añover, ANZCHAM Director Nancy Castiliogne, ECCP Associate Director Sophia Ordoña, and ECCP Advocacy Officer Mazel Salazar.
DOLE Intramuros, Philippines – on 26 February 2024, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines paid a courtesy meeting with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma to discuss DOLE strategic priorities for 2024.
The Secretary was joined by the Department’s key officials, namely Undersecretaries Carmela I. Torres and Atty. Felipe N. Egargo, Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Añover, and Directors Patrick P. Patriwirawan, Jr. and Adeline T. De Castro in the meeting.
The JFC of the Philippines was represented by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) President Paulo Duarte, ECCP Director Albert Perez, ECCP Associate Director Sophia Ordoña, and ECCP Advocacy Officer Mazel Salazar.
The DOLE presented its plans and priorities as guided by the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028, key policies and updates on improving the ease of employment for foreign nationals in the country, including DOLE Department Order No. 242, Series of 2024 (service charge), work visa processing timelines for foreigners, subsequent movement of the Security of Tenure Act. The JFC raised queries on the development of a minimum wage hike bill, concerns on the processing of their working visa, and cybersecurity measures.
The Department shared with the JFC the active measures that are being undertaken to address the issues raised and extended the invitation for dialogue on other concerns.
The meeting was also attended by The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham Philippines) Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe, AMCHAM-RESPOND Project Director Randall Garcia, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ANZCHAM) Executive Director Kimmi Siu Dewar, ANZCHAM Director Nancy Castiliogne, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (JCCIPI) President Shigeru Shimoda, Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Incorporated (PAMURI) Director Atty. Mimi Malvar, and Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines (KCCP) Director Sunah Kim.
The DOLE continues to welcome and strengthen collaboration with the private sector, aligned with the Marcos Jr. Administration’s goal of providing high-quality, remunerative job opportunities for the Filipino workforce.
END/Julius Cesar R. Tacal
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