Philippine, German business groups forge skills matching program

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is teaming up with the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) in helping boost youth employment in the country.

Under the agreement signed by the two business chambers, the GPCCI will contribute its experience regarding the German dual training education while PCCI will support the activities by providing information and support through its member-companies.

The collaboration between PCCI and GPCCI is targeted to result in a supply of well-skilled workers contributing to innovation and competitiveness of companies as well as help young Filipinos learn skills that would fit them for jobs and thereby increase youth employment and the income of their families.

PCCI president Alfredo Yao said the agreement provides the formal structure under which both chambers could adopt and implement to make available apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and employment services that can help young Filipinos make the transition from school and training to decent work.

Yao said businesses need to invest in creating and maintaining a high-performance workforce if they are to are to keep their competitive advantage in the Asean and global marketplace.

He said Increasing shortages in productive manpower are already being felt by several companies finding difficulty in recruiting skilled workers.

“PCCI member-companies and the industries they represent are in agreement towards the importance of narrowing the gap between skills in demand by industry and the skills that are being taught and are currently available,” he said.

“There are jobs, but few workers could fit them. If young Filipinos are skilled, they could get hired and raise total family earnings,” Yao added.

The PCCI and GPCCI agreement is a collaboration to support the K to 12 Plus Project, a dual vocational training system that seeks to result in a supply of well-skilled workers contributing to innovation and competitiveness of companies.

As part of the collaboration, the youth would undergo simulated real-workplace experiences as conducted in companies and vocational schools in Germany.

The overall objective the K to 12 Plus Project is to contribute to increased employment and income of Filipino youth and their families, and to matching the needs of companies for mid- to high level qualified employees.