Almost 2,000 job openings at DOLE’s job fair in Tacloban City

TACLOBAN CITY — Close to 2,000 jobs were offered by various establishments during the Labor Day celebration led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas on Sunday, May 1.

Over 60 establishments also joined the one-day jobs fair held at one of the shopping malls here.

Henry John Jalbuena, DOLE regional director, advised jobseekers to submit as many applications to the participating establishments to ensure that they would get hired.

“To our hopeful job seekers, I encourage you to be more active and patient as you embark toward employment (and) apply as many as you can,” he said.

Shiela, who declined to give her family name, said she hoped that she would be hired during the jobs fair.

“I lost my job due to the pandemic. I am trying my luck here,” said the 26-year old woman.

According to her, the construction firm where she worked for almost three years decided to retrenched some of its employees last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Records from DOLE-Eastern Visayas showed that at least 435 establishments ceased operations due to the pandemic, affecting 8,434 workers.

The DOLE, through its Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, is conducting a series of public hearings for a possible daily wage increase.

Earlier, the Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms have applied for a P750 wage increase from the current daily wage of P325 for private workers in the region.

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