Aside from offering educational scholarships, the Philippine government also offers employment opportunities to young Filipinos. In particular, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducts the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) every year.
SPES is an employment-bridging program that aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers. The program is usually held during summer and/or Christmas vacation, so that beneficiaries can earn additional income to help support their education.
Program Benefits
Under SPES, students will be working for participating establishments, either public or private. Private employers include establishments and non-government organizations (NGOs), while public employers include national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), public schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs), and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs).
After completing the program, students will be paid for the services they rendered, based on the minimum wage in the area or applicable hiring rate. Typically, the employer will shoulder 60 percent of their salaries, while DOLE will pay the remaining 40 percent. In addition, beneficiaries are entitled to insurance coverage for a period of one year.
Students in basic education will only be employed during summer vacation and/or Christmas vacation, while out-of-school youth and those enrolled in tertiary, technical, or vocational education may be employed any time of the year. The period of employment ranges from 20 days up to a maximum of 78 days (one time or cumulative) within a year.
Eligibility
Those who are eligible to apply for SPES must be:
- At least 15 but not more than 30 years old;
- A student currently enrolled in any secondary, tertiary, or technical-vocational institution;
- An out-of-school youth (OSY) who is not enrolled in a formal educational or training institution; or
- A child or dependent of a worker who was displaced or is about to be displaced.
Requirements
To apply for the program, applicants need to prepare:
- Filled-out SPES Application Form;
- Copy of Birth Certificate or any official document showing the applicant’s date of birth;
- Proof of Income: (a) copy of parents’ latest Income Tax Return (ITR) or Certificate of Tax Exemption (CTE) issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); or (b) Certificate of Low Income or Certificate of Indigency issued by the Barangay or the Social Welfare Development Office (SWDO);
- For Students: (a) average passing grade indicated in Form 138/Report Card/Class Card; or (b) certification by the school registrar regarding passing grade;
- For OSY: Certification as OSY issued by the Barangay or the SWDO; and
- For Dependents of Displaced Workers: (a) Notice of Termination issued by the employer; (b) DOLE’s Establishment Termination Report (ETR); or (c) certification of displacement issued by the Barangay or the SWDO.
Procedure
Here is a step-by-step guide on the SPES program procedure:
- The SPES applicants submit their application form and supporting documents to the local Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which implements and facilitates the program.
- The PESO screens and interviews SPES applicants with complete documents for validation, then refers them to participating employers.
- Once the SPES applicants are accepted for employment, the PESO conducts an orientation regarding their rights, duties, and privileges as program beneficiaries.
- The SPES beneficiaries sign an Employment Contract in the presence of the PESO Manager or an authorized representative.
For more information about the program, interested applicants can go to the nearest PESO or DOLE District, Provincial, or Regional Office in their area. They can also visit the DOLE official website.
As a bridging program, SPES enables students and OSY to gain actual work experience, thus preparing them for their future careers and vocations. It also provides them with additional income, which they can use to help support their educational expenses.
Notably, the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA) also has a program that focuses on schooling and livelihood/employment. Read this article to learn more about the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP).