WB reaffirms Phl employment, social protection programs’ backing

Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino met with World Bank officials to discuss strategic initiatives aimed at expanding employment opportunities for Filipino workers.

Tolentino met with a World Bank delegation led by Zafer Mustafaoglu, division director for the Philippines, at the DoLE headquarters in Manila.

“World Bank initiatives will always be relevant to DoLE,” Tolentino said. “It is not just about relevance, but knowing how to select what is best suited from the entire program to help alleviate our workers’ challenges.”

During the bilateral meeting, officials from both institutions discussed joint initiatives focused on job generation, technical skills development, and enhanced social protection programs for the labor force.

Mustafaoglu reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting Philippine labor programs and broader socioeconomic development goals.

He cited that future technical support will target labor information systems, artificial intelligence integration, school-to-work transition programs, enterprise-based training, labor rights advocacy, and workplace safety standards.