Preliminary meeting for the new chapter of the Japan-WAPES Joint Project

The new chapter of the Japan-WAPES joint project just started!
Next target country is the Philippines (the Department of Labor and Employment or DOLE).

On February 6th, 2025, in Manila, the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE, the Philippines), the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW, Japan), and WAPES had the preliminary meeting for the new Japan-WAPES Joint Project.

In the meeting, DOLE, MHLW, and WAPES identified that the project should focus on strengthening and improving the quality of PES, sticking to the DOLE’s five-point agenda (1. PESO institutionalization, 2. Comprehensive capacity development of PESO officers, 3. Reiteration of the core functions of PESOs, 4. Strengthen partnership with employers and education and training institutions, and 5. Digitalization of PES). Also, Participants discussed practical steps to move ahead with this new project.

On February 7, the delegation learned practical functions, such as labor market information and youth programs etc., at the PESO in Quezon City.

The next step will be the kick-off meeting in Tokyo, scheduled in March, aiming further to define the project’s prospects in the high-level discussion.

6- 7th February 2025, Manila

～What is the Japan-WAPES Joint Project?～
The aim is to improve public employment services in the Asia-Pacific region, in combination with the accumulated knowledge and expertise that Japan and WAPES possess.