RETOOLING AND UPSKILLING OF WORKERS

It is already a given reality that many workers are losing their jobs as the demand for employable skills are changing, driven by new technologies that are being used in their workplaces, driven by new hardware or software or by combinations of both. It is not really a case of sink or swim, because it is more of a case of do or die, meaning that no matter how these workers would try to swim with the currents, they could still “die” if they could not adjust to the new realities either by retooling or upskilling or by combinations of both. In theory, it should be the DOLE that should be monitoring and tracking the changes in the job markets, locally and globally. I hope that they are doing that, otherwise we would be in deep trouble if they are not. Perhaps, these functions could be performed by our Labor Attaches, if they are not too busy helping their OFW clients. In addition, our Trade Attaches could also perform these functions, or they could work together as part of one country team under the direction of the Ambassador or the Consul General. Since most of these changes are technology related, it would also be practical for both the DOST and the DICT to join the tracking and monitoring, possibly including the DTI also, since the Trade Attaches report to them. IKE SENERES/09088877282/12-28-2023