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CRITIQUE ON JOB MISMATCH A GREAT DILEMMA

AND STATUS OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES,

AND BOOK REVIEW: Creating a World without Poverty

______________________________________
A Requirements
Presented to the
Dr. FATIMA ROCAMORA
Graduate Studies for Education
College of Teacher Education
University of Northern Philippines
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
___________________________________

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor in Education
Education and National Development

_________________________________

by

JAY-R C. REINTEGRADO
JOB MISMATCH A GREAT DILEMMA

The Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines commits to what seems to be a never-
ending cause of providing enough decent jobs for Filipinos. It may be pleasing to hear that more than a hundred
thousand jobs are available to date, yet it cannot be denied that numbers are still growing in terms of both
unemployment and underemployment. But Why? The answer to this is only two words: Job mismatch.

Job mismatch cases in the Philippines is so common among todays workforce, hence more and more
employees become restless and frustrated with their current jobs and career paths. Yes, we cannot deny the fact
that this time many graduates work in a field not of their calling of profession. They landed into care giving job,
house servant helpers, security guards, call center agents, OFWs or even construction workers. It seems that this
shows that education does not guarantee opportunity to find good paying job.

But if we look deeper on it, there are lot of queries in our mind about the job mismatch, like where does
mismatch starts? Is it a product of wrong policy and decision of whom? Or this is a case of overlapping
government agencies function, and who should be responsible for school mismatches? Parents who send their
children to school and the person who decide what particular degree their children had to enroll? Or the
administrators and owners because of their personal desire to earn more, offer irrelevant courses and admitting
anyone interested as long as they can afford to pay the tuition fees? But the greatest question of all is that what
might be the reason behind why job mismatch happen? According to my readings and research here are some of
the top reasons, as observed by most career experts, why the job mismatch issue remains controversial to this
very day: (1) Wrong choice of college course either strong parental influence in decision-making, or taking a
course pertaining to a job that is in (not because the interest is there); (2) Being too money-driven Applying
for jobs that offer above-average compensation packages, like those based abroad, despite not possessing the
necessary skills; (3) Being too choosy unreasonable conditions or demands set by jobseekers when looking for
or applying to jobs; (4) The overqualified stigma work experiences are beyond employers requirements for
the job applied for a situation that is not new to employees who wish to switch careers or lower their standards
just to avoid unemployment; (5) Cost-cutting measures of companies for relevant training programs Not
all employers allot the required time or budget for training new hires, who are therefore expected to be fast-
learners as they go completely hands on as early as day one and ; (6) Using connections in the workplace
There are applicants and employees who consider their relationship with a top-rank person in the organization as
an assurance of securing jobs, while those who are more deserving end up unemployed or victims of career
mismatches themselves.

Key officials have also put the blame on several sub-factors concerning job mismatch: Executive Director
of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Patti de la Rama on location-related
conflicts, Delfina Camarillo of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on prodding by family
members and the so-called abroad mentality, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara on failure to implement the
needed reforms in the countrys education system, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on jobseekers lack of
drive to find work, and DOLE-RO8 OIC-Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga on high school graduates not
exerting effort to gain additional knowledge on courses they plan to take in college.

Many efforts to address this alarming national concern have been reported, such as TESDA acting as
a bridge between industries and the local education sector regarding further training applicable to a wide range of
hot jobs, career skills coaching sessions for high school seniors, seminars for school and university heads and
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials, career guidance advocacy activities, Angaras Bill of Rights
of New Graduates, more job fairs, reverse migration, and a Municipal Career Advocacy Congress (MCAC). For
the same purpose, it is also recommended for graduating high school students to take career assessment exams
whether given by the school or via the Internet, and for schools to come up with a short but substantive program
for them to discuss employment trends and corporate practices.
In such activities, one focus should also include what is believed to be the ultimate solution to the root of
the issue: having above average to excellent communication skills.

Communicating fluently and effectively is one of the main weapons of an applicant written
communication when creating resumes, portfolios and cover letters, and oral communication during job
interviews. The ability to express and build up oneself verbally and in writing can actually turn things around
during the critical stages in the application process. They can explain to employers in detail their core
competencies and experiences, as well as justify with conviction why they deserve to be in that position theyre
applying for and receive the compensation package and benefits that they expect. The same routine also takes
place when the applicant-turned-employee proves his or her worth for a raise, a lateral transfer or a promotion.

To be globally competent, one must be eloquent in the English language. Be it here or abroad as long as
employment is under a company managed by native English speakers and non-native English speaking foreigners,
thorough knowledge in the universal language of business communication and the ability to speak and write in it
the way it should be done lead to the road to local and international success.

On the other side of the coin, the problem of unemployment in this country is not the lack of employment
opportunities but the lack of qualified workers for jobs available in the market. There are lots of demands for
certain position but our graduates or labor supplies are unfit for these demands. We have more and more educated
work force yet the quality of jobs held by the majority of college graduates has deteriorated as an increasingly
number of college graduates are being employed in the sales, service, agriculture and production related sectors.

So for these dilemma we are facing right now the government and the school also with the other institution
involve play a vital role in coping up with these problem, they should join hand on hand to create a better solution
nor minimize/ eradicate these dilemma.
STATUS OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines ranked ninth out of 142 countries in terms of gender equality, according to the recent
World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2014. As one of the top 10 countries, the Philippines
keeps company with high-income Nordic countries, such as Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Perhaps
surprisingly, several low-income countries such as Nicaragua and Rwanda also made the top 10.

The WEF global gender gap index is comprised of 14 indicators measuring educational attainment, health
and survival, economic participation and opportunity, and political empowerment. The global gender gap index
measures the difference between men and womens access to resources and opportunities rather than the total
level of attainment. For example, the Philippines and Norway achieved the same rank of one indicating virtually
no gender gap in secondary education enrolments, despite very different levels of overall enrolment. In the
Philippines, 67 per cent of girls and 56 per cent of boys are enrolled in secondary education, compared to 96 per
cent and 94 per cent respectively in Norway.

The Philippines overall ninth place ranking is driven by high performance on two indicators: education,
and health and survival. In both dimensions, the Philippines has achieved the highest rank of one, with virtually
no gender gap in literacy rates, primary, secondary and even tertiary education enrollment, and life expectancy.

Despite these impressive results, gender inequality persists in economic opportunities and political
empowerment, where the Philippines ranked 24th and 17th respectively. The Philippines ranking for labor force
participation was even lower, at 102 out of 142 countries. This is due to a female labor force participation rate of
just 53 per cent, which is extremely low compared to a male participation rate of 81 per cent.

Womens participation in paid work is constrained by unpaid domestic and care work, and a lack of
productive employment opportunities. According to statistics from the Department of Labor and Employment,
30 per cent of working-age women reported that household or family duties prevented them from participating in
the labor market. The Philippines relatively high WEF ranking arises partly because despite barriers to womens
labor force participation, many women who are able to participate in paid work do access high-status occupations
such as legislators, senior officials, managers, professionals and technicians. This likely reflects effective gender
equality policies in these particular areas.

Thus, the overall ninth place ranking needs to be interpreted with caution. The construction of the WEF
gender gap index masks underperformance in the economic and political spheres where many women are still
excluded. Also, rankings of gender inequality are highly sensitive to the indicators used. For example, compared
to its ninth-place ranking on the WEF gender gap index, the Philippines ranked only 78th in the 2014 United
Nations Development Programs Gender Inequality Index.

While the degree of gender equality in the Philippines, relative to other countries, is debatable, the
Philippines has an extensive and impressive institutional framework to promote gender equality. The
Philippines has ratified key international agreements, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination Against Women, the constitution affirms womens equality with men, and the Magna Carta of
Women requires the state to uphold womens human rights.

The Philippines Commission on Women (PCW) promotes gender equality through a comprehensive
strategy of gender mainstreaming and good governance. This likely contributes to the Philippines high ranking
for education on the WEF index. The PCW utilizes gender budgeting and auditing tools to strengthen
accountability; implements specific projects, such as the GREAT Women Project to support womens economic
empowerment; supports sex-disaggregated data collection; and conducts research to make laws and policies
gender-sensitive. For women able to overcome barriers to participation, gender equality is promoted through the
Magna Carta and Labor Code which include temporary special measures.
But further advances in gender equality will require more effective implementation of some legislation,
particularly acts relating to child care and womens economic inclusion, such as the agrarian reform law. Current
legislation on labor standards and contracts also needs to be better enforced. Improving the well-being of women
requires increasing overall living standards, not just reducing the gender gap. Disadvantaged women need specific
attention in a country with high levels of overall income inequality.

The Philippines institutional framework offers a good model for the promotion of gender equality. But
the Philippines needs to address the key challenges of implementation and enforcement in order to eliminate
gender inequality across all aspects of life.
BOOK REVIEW: Creating a World without Poverty

By: Mohammad Yunus

"Poverty is perhaps the most serious threat to world peace, even more dangerous than terrorism, religious
fundamentalism, ethnic hatred, political rivalries, or any of the other forces that often cited as promoting violence
and war. Poverty leads to hopelessness, which provokes people to desperate acts. Those with practically nothing
have no good reason to refrain from violence, since even acts with only a small chance of improving their
conditions seem better than doing nothing and accepting their fate with passivity. Poverty also creates economic
refugees, leading to clashes between populations. It leads to bitter conflicts between peoples, clans, and nations
over scarce resources - water, arable land, energy supplies and any saleable commodity" .---Mohammed Yunus

This book gives a sense of his visions sweep, but only hints at his ambition. He wants not only to end
global poverty and related problems such as gender discrimination, social exclusion, and lack of access to health
care and education, but also to eliminate environmental degradation and extreme inequality. In short, Yunus wants
to create a more just society for all.

At the first part of the book Yunus introduces his idea of "social business". His reason for this introduction
of a new form of business is solely because of the failure of capitalism to portray the multi-faceted, multi-
dimensional personalities of humans. An interesting statistic that Yunus evidences is that, "Ninety-four percent
of world income goes to 40 percent of the people, while the other 60 percent must live on only 6 percent of world
income." What is important to this point is the question, "Well shouldn't the government be able to step in and
equalize this proportion?" Unfortunately, the answer is no. In fact, Muhammad discusses this point, arguing that
while government is beneficial to the majority of society, providing helpful services and opportunities, like all
governing bodies, they are prone to inefficiency, slowness, and corruption. In order to combat this problem, Yunus
opened the Grameen Bank, an entity capable of giving money to the poor, without the hassle of dealing with
credit scores, referrals or endless processes. He presents his ideas for solving the worlds social problems as he
outlines how Bangladesh can develop more successfully; updates the history of the Grameen Bank, for which
most readers will know him; offers his thoughts on the potential of technology to help end poverty; and details
his ideas on international norms and governance.

In Chapter 2 it begins with Yunus's declaration of social business's objectives. Muhammad believes that
social businesses should sell affordable and nutritious food to the poor and malnourished, provide health services
to the poor, create affordable and renewable energies and recycle garbage that would only damage the
community.The main point of this chapter is promoting the benefits of social business. In it, Yunus hopes to
demonstrate the possibilities that this avenue of business holds for the global community. Despite modern
practice, social business would be different from capitalistic business (PMB's) in that investors
would receive none of the dividends. All of the profits from the business would be invested into the poor, who
would purchase the same products at a discounted price.

But his main tool for alleviating the worlds ills is social business, which he defines as financially
sustainable but non-dividend- paying enterprises established to solve social and environmental problems. These
enterprises are controlled by shareholders (either donors or the poor), and donors get their initial investment back,
though any additional profits created by the enterprise are plowed back into the work. To illustrate his idea of a
social business, Yunus weaves through the book the fascinating case study of Grameen Danone, a joint venture
between Grameen and the French multinational food product company Danone.

Yunus sees many sources from which these new social businesses can originate: existing companies,
foundations, the World Bank and other agencies, government development funds, successful entrepreneurs
looking for a next activity, wealthy retirees, and recent college graduates. Indeed, all of these sources hold
promise.
He also believes that social businesses would encourage more people to give back: Many would find
establishing and working in a social business more attractive than working for a charity, given the prestige society
accords business entrepreneurs above and beyond their financial success.

Yunus addresses the practical hurdles of creating social businesses by succinctly describing the steps that
must be taken if social businesses are to become mainstream institutions. Advocates must develop a set of legal
definitions of social business, along with taxation and regulatory rules. Social business standards must then be
established and certified. Yunus believes that different types of independent accreditation and ratings agencies
will spring up to meet the demands of potential investors and consumers. I would add that government, certifying
agencies, and the boards of social business firms themselves will need to take great care to prevent social business
managers from using these enterprises for their own benefit.

Yunus goes on to describe mechanisms that would help ensure that the poor would benefit from activities
of social businesses. These include special packaging, locations of sales, and social pressure, which are analogous
to the screens of some government welfare programs, including work requirements and means tests. These
mechanisms overlap with hurdles that facilitate price discrimination in private marketsthe coupons, rebates,
time restrictions, and minor product imperfections that consumers must endure to get discounts.

One of Yunus most interesting proposals is his concept of a social stock market, where socially minded
investors would buy and sell shares of social businesses. He thinks the price of the shares will rise when evidence
of program cost effectiveness becomes available, and envisions a Social Dow Jones Index, which would reflect
the share values of some of the worlds most broadly representative social businesses. (The Rockefeller
Foundation recently funded an effort to investigate the feasibility of a social stock market in the United Kingdom.)

I suspect that readers will either love or hate the idea of a social stock market; those who think of social
businesses as a charity may be uneasy if they see speculators profiting by buying low and selling high. On a more
basic level, it wasnt clear to me why investors would be willing to pay a higher price for a share of a social
business simply because it was alleviating a social problem. Why, for example, would the share price of an anti-
homelessness social business rise if homelessness was disappearing?

On the role that IT could play in taking resources to the masses, Yunus is optimistic. The New IT cannot
be controlled by a single owner or authority. It will help in giving dignity and self-reliance to poor women. The
science that however comes in has to adopt a strong bottom up model in the manner of its platform and design
styles. He talks about opening an organization which will be named as IT Solutions to End Poverty (ISEP). ISEP
will generate ready to apply social business ideas for using IT for poor, it could develop prototype for IT
infrastructure and information system, it could study the interface between the informational needs of the poor
and existing IT capabilities Muhammad deals with how best to publicize a cause, emphasizing the use of radio,
TV, newspapers and online forums. Provides many other excellent methods on how to create attention towards
a topic. Yunus also discusses how the age of new technology being discussed today should be utilized to its full
advantage to help the poor. Several methods he proposes for Information Technology are integrating the poor
into the global market, promote the employment of foreign workers in need of jobs, and the education of the poor
through online programs. Muhammad discusses how, even in this day and age of advanced technology, there will
always be the problem of there being too many people, too few resources, and not enough care.

The book in its concluding part speaks about the vision that Yonus has for the poor and marginalized of
the world and how it is all about giving access to the poor that would be the panacea to the ills of the world. Yunus
describes his dream of once and for all, ending poverty. In this chapter, he writes of his plan to keep the remnants
of poverty locked away in museums once the problem is eliminated, using these places to remind those of the
graces that society is granted everyday.

He urges on redistribution as a strategy along with business accepting the fact that they cannot go on with the
current strategy of unlimited profit maximization as the process, the means and the end state.
He draws from his experience in Bangladesh which despite having very little emissions is currently at the
receiving end of the global warming menace. With sea levels rising what needs to be done is strict enforcement
of regulations and belt tightening rather waste time on more meaningless conferences, the fact that Bangladesh is
sinking is proof enough to develop consensus. the associated fact is that with high population densities, any
development intervention shall be successful only when these inter alia issues get addressed, else all interventions
and financial aids shall fall flat on their faces.

Yonus does criticize the existing model of capitalism with its obsession with monetary profits, utter disregard for
the interests of the poor and free markets that operate sans regulation. nevertheless Yonus is a believer in the
goodness of the human spirit and believes that human beings dont differ in capacity, it is all about access and a
chance to prove oneself, once that is done the solution to global poverty can be met and the process of consigning
it to the museums can be initiated.

He believes that the poor resemble the bonsai, even the best seed planted in a flower pot would grow as much as
the space it gets.given a chance the poor can prove to be as competitive as the riche of the world.its time
we move ahead and truly globalize the cause of the poor and reach out all out..

It is nice to end up this paper with an eye opener quotation coming from Yunus "Poverty doesn't only condemn
humans to lives of difficulty and unhappiness; it can expose them to life-threatening dangers. Because poverty
denies people any semblance of control over their destiny, it is the ultimate denial of human rights. When freedom
of speech or religion is violated in this country of that, global protests are often mobilized in response. Yet, when
poverty violates the human rights of half the world's population, most of us turn our heads away and get on with
our lives." .

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