The Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) aims to assist poor, but deserving, students and out-of-school youth to pursue their education by providing them income through employment. The program provides the youth with valuable experience for better school-to-work transition. Youth are employed for a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 52 working days where participating employers pay 60 percent of their salary while the DOLE pays the 40 percent share based on the applicable minimum wage in the area.