MANILA, Philippines?The Department of Labor and Employment?s hotline for information on local and overseas jobs won an award from International Association of Business Communicators, it was learned over the weekend.

The hotline service, launched May 1 this year, consists of three channels?DOLE 2917 Hotline, 2910 SMS facility, and this website? so that workers can access for information on local and overseas vacancies and updates and services being provided by labor offices.

Questions and requests for information ranging from wages, work standards, labor relations, occupational health, holiday-related issues and others are entertained.

The service, which is in partnership with Globe Telecom, has been given the Philippine Quill Award, merit category, for offering a sustainable solution to workers? and potential workers? questions.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque received the PQA merit plaque for the DoLE-Globe 3-Way Asenso Connect hotline service from Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu at the Globe?s partners? night held in Makati City lastTuesday.

?We would like to see more workers given jobs and other forms of assistance through the DoLE-Globe hotline service,? Roque said.

Workers may call the DOLE 2917 Hotline to reach DoLE, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration by dialing 2917 from their Globe or TM cell phones, or 908-2917 from their Globe landline phones.

According to the labor department, all calls from Globe or TM cell phones and Globe Landlines are free of charge nationwide. The service is also open to non-Globe subscribers, who will be charged regular per-minute call rates. Charges applied to caller coming from other network.

Globe subscribers may also text "DOLE HELP" for local jobs and "POEA HELP" for overseas jobs to 2910. They may also text the two agencies to 2910 for questions and comments. Globe subscribers may also register their cell phone numbers in order to receive updates from DOLE on relevant news, job vacancies, holidays, and other updates on services.

The award-giving group is an association of 16,000 members in more than 100 chapters in 70 countries.