Of more than 36,000 applicants who went to Department of Labor and Employment job fairs across the country on Wednesday, only 1,274–or less than 4 percent–were hired on the spot, DOLE’s central office reported.
A total of 406,706 jobs were on offer ay 75 job fairs across the country. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the department will have more accurate data next month when it follows up “near hires” and applicants scheduled for job interviews.
There were 7,240 applicants interviewed while 3,340 were scheduled for further interviews. Another 177 were considered “near hires” and were referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for additional training.
“Topping the list is still the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. They are still the top generating job industry and this is not for the call centers only but also for the non-voice as it is expanding even more,” Baldoz said in a Sun.Star Online report.
Labor groups meanwhile held protests against job contractualization and low wages on Wednesday, Labor Day.
“The country’s workers are not happy with the Aquino government’s announcement that there won’t be a wage hike this Labor Day. Government officials are thinking of the one-year ban on hiking wages, not the real situation of the country’s workers,” Kilusang Mayo Uno said.
Wage orders to raise salaries cannot be issued within a year after a previous wage order was issued.
