Project for jobless youth comes to QC

MANILA,Philippines–A pilot project of the Department of Labor and Employment seeks to assist 700 unemployed youth in Quezon City to become job-ready through training and internships.

Registration for JobStart is going on until Aug. 1 at the ground floor of the Quezon City Hall Legislative Building and from Aug. 5 to 8 at the Quezon City Polytechnic University-San Bartolome, Novaliches.

JobStart is a program funded by the Asian Development Bank through a grant from the government of Canada to address the high rate of unemployed youth. It will be rolled out in three other cities—Taguig City, San Fernando in Pampanga province and General Trias in Cavite province.

Out of 1,400 beneficiaries, 700 youths from Quezon City will receive career guidance, job market information and life skills training. They will be referred to potential employers for technical training and internship.

Youth beneficiaries will receive stipends during training and at least 75 percent of the minimum wage from the employers during the internship. Applicants must be between 18-24 years old, at least a high school graduate, currently unemployed and must not have more than one year job experience.–Erika Sauler