The government and the private sector have teamed up to provide training and reskilling to workers to meet the needs of the business, according to various industry players.

Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON) president Rhoda Caliwara said industry players have partnered with the government in strengthening their programs and projects, including training for their workers.

Caliwara expressed hope that the government could come up with statistical data of the requirements of all industries, and involve the academe in integration of these needs into the curriculum.

“And if the government can also encourage the academe to expose Senior High School students to the jobs available in their localities and develop them towards that career direction. It’s really a collaboration and partnership,” she said during a recent conference of employers.

Celeste Ilagan, chief policy and regulatory affairs officer at the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), said players themselves have different training programs for their employees, while concerned government agencies have contributions to meeting the goals of the industry.

Ilagan said it is imperative that Senior High School graduates in the country are jobs-ready.

“For our industry, we are ready to hire Senior High School graduates as long as during their OJT (on-the-job training), these students are able to acquire the skills necessary for them to be even used for the entry level services of the industry,” she said.

Semiconductors and Electronic Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) president Danilo Lachica cited the need to work closely with the government agencies and higher education institutions to address the skills gap in the industry.

“We need to continue working with CHED (Commission on Higher Education)… We also need to work with the DepEd (Department of Education) in terms of leveraging the Senior High School education and inserting subjects that are needed by the industry and last but not least TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) in terms of the operators and the technicians,” he said.