For Aurora local Zoren Amat, it’s his turn to pay it forward when he returns to his hometown Baler, Aurora, as part of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Job Enrichment Program.

Mr. Zoren T. Amat is the first grantee of the DOLE Job Enrichment Program (JEP), a human resource initiative of DOLE that seeks to enhance service delivery of its employees through job exposures in actual operations of the Department.

“This assignment has always been something that I’ve prayed for. This opportunity given to me by the DOLE Job Enrichment Program (JEP), gives me a chance to serve better workers in our province. By actually working with Aurora employers and workers and our communities, I can personally continue DOLE’s mission of increasing the levels of opportunities for, and access to decent and productive employment,” said Amat.

The DOLE Job Enrichment Program seeks to develop and enhance the skills of DOLE employees, prepare them for higher offices and responsibilities and increase the number of manpower resources in various DOLE field offices throughout the country. Components of this skills development program include cross-posting, job rotation, deployment, detailing and circuiting of professional and highly technical staff, employees and personnel of the Department.

“Beyond the work that we do for millions of workers all over the country, we also want to make sure that our employees are just as competent and capable as every world-class Filipino worker that we serve. The DOLE Job Enrichment Program seeks to develop the full potential of our employees through job immersion with the needs of our workers,” said DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

To qualify for the Job Enrichment Program, employees must have permanent civil service appointment status, has been working with the Department for at least two years, and must score a Very Satisfactory rating for two consecutive semesters for non-presidential appointees and at least one year for presidential appointees in the DOLE.

“Through this program we hope we can strengthen the Department’s organizational capabilities and capacities by improving the potentials and talents of our pool of workers, civil servants and human resources,” said Baldoz.

Researcher to the Barrios

Zoren grew up and finished his elementary and high school education. A son of a public school teacher and an agriculturist, Zoren has always held a close heart for serving his hometown. While many have chosen to work in the metropolis, Zoren has always wanted to go back to his roots to serve. As soon as an opportunity to serve Baler came up, Zoren immediately applied in the program and took the chance to give back to his hometown. Prior to his assignment to Baler, Zoren is a Senior Labor and Employment Officer for the ILS, the DOLE’s policy research and advocacy arm. Mr. Amat brings to Baler his expertise in work on pressing labor social concerns such as child labor, people with HIV/AIDS, informal workers, rural employment, gender issues and youth employment.

“In view of his rich experience in doing policy work, Mr. Amat was selected by the DOLE as its first grantee and enrollee in its Jobs Enrichment Program and has been assigned to the DOLE Office in Region 3 in Baler, Aurora Province. At the Aurora Field Office he is expected to bring with him the insights and ideas he gained while working for the ILS, especially when it comes to crafting programs that would ultimately redound to the benefit of workers in the Sierra Madre countryside,” said Baldoz.

“I think this is the best service that I can give for my hometown. It is my hope that with this opportunity, I can continue the DOLE’s work on increasing the levels of opportunities for, and access to decent and productive employment,” said Amat.
Mr. Amat is in assignment at DOLE Region from July 31, 2012 to February 1, 2013.

The ILS was created in July 1987 by virtue of Executive Order No. 257. Since its creation the Institute has always been at the forefront of labor and employment policy research and advocacy providing strategic policy research for the Department of Labor and Employment. ###

(For more information on this press release please contact Mr. BRYAN BALCO, Labor & Employment Officer III, Advocacy & Publications Division, Institute for Labor Studies, Telephone Nos.: 5273490 / 5273447)