COMPETENT and capable persons with disabilities (PWDs) will be among the marginalized who will be given priority on the upcoming job fair at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on December 7 to 8.
Seven multinational companies, most of which are in information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry, signified to openly accept PWD applicants during the job fair.
Iloilo Public Employment Service Office (Peso) said these companies are Hinduja, Transcom, Teletech, SPI, Lifebank Foundation, RBG Imperial Bank, and ZKO Distributors.
Republic Act No. 10524 or the Act Expanding the Positions Reserved for PWDs amended the Magna Carta for PWDs in 2016 and gave the PWDs more employment opportunities.
Under this law, private corporations, who employ at least 100 employees, are encouraged to reserve at least one percent of all positions for PWDs. Those who employ less than 100 employees are encouraged to hire PWDs.
Government agencies shall also reserve at least one percent of their regular and non-regular positions for PWDs.
Aside from PWDs, Iloilo Peso manager Francisco Heler Jr. said they will create special lanes for indigenous people, solo parent, beneficiaries of social livelihood program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, graduates of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), parolees, and probationers.
Over 60,000 job orders and vacancies from 135 participating companies and government agencies will be opened to job seekers during the two-day fair.
On the first day, job seekers can apply to overseas recruitment agencies, BPOs, banks, logistics, real estates and government agencies (Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Budget and Management, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Professional Regulation Commission, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Department of Trade and Industry).
On the second day, job vacancies will be offered by wholesale or retail business, manufacturing, food service, cars, hotels, malls and construction companies.
Help desks will also be set by Tesda, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Overseas Employment Authority, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Social Security System, and Professional Regulation Commission.
Job seekers who wish to attend the job fair may coordinate with their respective municipal public employment service offices for free transportation.
Free transportation will be offered to job seekers from Alimodian, Anilao, Badiangan, Barotac Viejo, Barotac Nuevo, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Dumangas, Igbaras, Janiuay, Lambunao, Leon, Maasin, Pavia, San Rafael, Tigbauan, and Zarraga. Members of Newtrals Philbikers Organization will also offer free ride.
In December 2017 job fair, there were 2,957 job seekers and 147 participating companies. Of the job applicants, 110 individuals were hired-on-the-spot while 733 individuals were nearly-hired. (Jezza A. Nepomoceno)