Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), on its first year under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, has equipped micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with knowledge and skills on productivity to enhance their competitiveness.
Through the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB), DOLE has assisted MSMEs in implementing productivity improvement programs through the NWPC Productivity Toolbox.
Productivity orientations were conducted in 11,781 MSMEs, which were attended by 25,321 participants; and productivity trainings were provided to 3,883 MSMEs, which were participated by 10,103 workers.
The productivity toolbox makes use of the ladderized approach, and includes basic training on concepts on productivity, values, working conditions, and basic business systems. It also implements intermediate training on application of productivity technologies based on the needs of enterprises for further improvement; and advanced training which requires enterprises to be deeply involved and innovative as it covers all aspects of a company’s operation and supply chain.
Enterprises which have successfully implemented productivity improvement programs (PIPs) and have continuously adopted productivity technologies are qualified to join the 2017 Productivity Olympics, where the awarding of winners will be held during the Productivity Month celebration in October 2017.
Mandated under RA 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act and RA 6971 or the Productivity Incentives Act, the NWPC formulates policies and guidelines on wages, incomes and productivity and exercises technical and administrative supervision over the 17 RTWPBs. Meanwhile, the RTWPBs are tasked to set regional minimum wages and conduct productivity training programs for MSMEs and their workforce.
Companies which are interested to avail of the training programs and technical assistance may apply at the NWPC or RTWPB offices in their respective localities or visit the NWPC website at www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph
