Key Findings This section discusses the major insights gathered based on the FGDs with the representatives of the five different sectors, supplemented by desk research on the related data and information. National Government and LGUs 105. The length of school-to-work transition of senior high school and college graduates is yet to be measured. Based on the PIDS data shared by the TESDA representative, the school-to-work transition of TESDA graduates takes 3.35 months, which is higher than the 2015 baseline of 3 months but lower than the 2020 target of 3 to 5 months. However, no data is available for the length of school-to-work transition of senior high school and college graduates. However, the end plan targets are between .75 to 9 to 12 months. Employers Lack of guidelines on internship/OJT programs 106. 162 163 164 Guidelines on internship or OJT programs are unclear. One of the amendments in the National Apprenticeship Act concerns the wage rate of apprentices, which “at the initial stage shall be seventy-five percent of the statutory minimum wage and their graduated wage scales or progressive wage increases shall take off therefrom.”162 Additionally, it states that “if there are serious considerations why an employer cannot meet the above requirements and upon presentation of adequate proof to this effect, the Secretary of Labor, upon recommendation of the Bureau [of Apprenticeship under DOLE], may authorize a lower initial rate for the particular program, but such rate should not be less than fifty percent of the legal minimum wage, provided, that periodic wage increases for apprentices should be uniform but scaled in a manner which at its later stages would not surpass or otherwise disturb wage structure fixed by collective bargaining agreements or otherwise in effect in the firm for journeypersons or regular workers in the same occupational classification as the apprentice.”163 Moreover, “any person who pays his apprentices wages at less than the sub-minimum rates fixed for them in their apprenticeship agreements shall be penalized with a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than three thousand pesos, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.”164 However, despite such provisions, employer participants are confused because such practice varies among companies, and the standards or guidelines are unclear and not well monitored or closely supervised by the DOLE, which is the primary implementing agency of the National Apprenticeship Law. Presidential Decree No. 173 s. 1993, at § 11 (§ 6-A). Id. Id. at § 11 (§ 6-B). 43