Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Unemployment up in Davao: labor By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Southern Mindanao revealed that unemployment rate has increased in Davao Region with a total of 130,000 people unemployed based on a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in July this year.
"It was the latest survey result conducted by the NSO and it showed that unemployment rate in the region is 7.1 percent, higher than the same period last year with 6.7 percent," Ma. Gloria Tango, regional director of Dole, told Sun.Star Davao.
"Actually we are facing twin problems, the unemployment and underemployment, there are some people who are recorded as employed, but the number of hours they work ay kulang," she added. "A worker should work 40 hours a week to consider him as employed, less than 40 hours, he is considered underemployed."
Tango revealed that underemployment rate also increased in the region with 25.4 percent in July. The same period last year posted 20.9 percent underemployment rate.
Tango said Dole is addressing the problem through continuing programs, which are mandated by the National Government.
"We are continuously implementing our employment facilitation program in which we are soliciting job vacancies, we are conducting jobs fair to help place those who are seeking for jobs," Tango said.
Tango added that Dole has already initiated at least 25 jobs fair regionwide from January to September this year.
"Out of these jobs fair, we are able to solicit 39,000 jobs," Tango said, adding that a total of 2,031 applicants were hired on the spot.
