1,360 hired in 7 DOLE, TESDA job fairs

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – More than 1,360 job applicants were hired on-the-spot while over 15,480 others were scheduled for further interviews and screenings by their prospective employers during seven job fairs, held last month by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, among other agencies, for graduates of technical and vocational schools in Metro Manila.

This was disclosed on Monday by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz as she also cited the DOLE-attached Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors, Association of Tech-Voc Schools in Metro Manila, and various local government units in the metropolis for taking part in the job fairs.

The employment fairs, conducted in Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa City, Taguig City, Caloocan City, Pasay City, and Pasig City, “are part of the Hanap-Buhay para sa mga Tesda Specialists job bridging program for tech-voc graduates,” Baldoz noted.

They are “also part of the Aquino administration’s labor and employment agenda to address unemployment by providing decent and productive work to Filipinos towards inclusive growth.”

“The labor department remains true to its commitment to generate employment,” said Baldoz, citing the DOLE campaign “More than jobs. It’s decent jobs.”

In a statement, the Dole head explained that “to ensure a high placement rate for job applicants, the approach is focused-hiring, with Tesda providing the skills profile and number of tech-voc graduates in a given district which the labor department’s National Capital Region office matches with the industries that require manpower for specific skills.”

In 2012 alone, the number of tech-voc graduates in Metro Manila reached 171,412.

DOLE-NCR Director Alan Macaraya said their office “finds it necessary to facilitate the immediate employment of these tech-voc graduates.”

Vacancies in the just-concluded job fairs included health and wellness positions, sales representatives, dermatologists, graphic artists, pharmacists, dieticians, electricians, factory and construction workers, welders, and general clerks, among others.

According to Baldoz, “the number of applicants hired on-the-spot combined with the number of those lined up for further interviews and screenings is a very good indication of the success of the job fairs.”

She expressed confidence DOLE and its attached agencies would be able to facilitate the hiring of more tech-voc graduates not just from Metro Manila but also other parts of the country.