Although it claims to be short-term, the CLA declared that the program possessed long-term value as it combines license training and education of future industry development. “We want workers to become capable of acquiring professional licenses after they leave the program, which would span a potential long-term job in the future. The total training hours needed to exceed 48, to ensure quality. In addition, the new program mandates employer-employee relations instead of a short-term, subsidized-based relationship. These employees will be eligible for health insurance benefits and other government funds.
The CLA stated that target applicants would be workers who were involuntarily laid off, since they wished to provide spaces to those in greatest need. The CLA will also match the workers’ professional backgrounds to related fields for enhanced performance. This will boost productivity for the employers as well.
The program will generate 1,500 short-term jobs in various government sectors. So far, the Environmental Protection Administration, the Department of Labor Inspection and the Department of Health have introduced positions in the energy saving department, the sanitation department, and the nursing care department, respectively according to CLA reports.
In an effort to reduce the 4.21-percent unemployment rate announced by the Directorate-General of Budgeting, Accounting and Statistics, the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) has launched a government-subsidized “Job Creation Program” for the jobless. It will differentiate from past programs as it proposes a long-term vision. This was a response to scholars who have criticized the council for only initiating short-term programs in the past.
