DOLE records 524 near-hires in Labor Day Job and Business Fair in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Some 524 “near-hires” were tallied in the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) recently concluded Labor Day Job and Business Fair in this province.

DOLE Regional Director Zenaida Angara-Campita reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that the near-hires comprised 85 percent of 615 jobseekers that flocked the event at the Bataan People’s Center.

“Near-hires are job applicants who were considered hired but still need to submit additional or lacking documents, or may still need to undergo further interview or examinations,” RD Campita explained.

RD Campita noted that the preliminary near-hires computed also include those jobseekers considered near-hired in multiple companies they applied for.

“Jobseekers may apply for many job openings offered by multiple companies in our job fairs, this way, there are better chances for them to be hired. Just like the job fair turnout for the rest of Central Luzon last May 1, we are happy to note that we scored many near-hires here in Bataan as well and hopeful that most of them get hired,” RD Campita said.

DOLE Bataan Field Office head Leilani Reynoso said that the labor agency will have a month-long monitoring on the statuses of near-hires in coordination with participating employers.

At least 11 employers offered 1,000 vacancies for local employment while 17 POEA-licensed recruitment agencies had 1,100 jobs for overseas employment.

The region-wide job and business fairs continues to adopt the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) concept initiated by the DOLE and Department of Trade and Industry.

For their part, the Trade and Industry agency provided a lecture on Business Opportunities for jobseekers and returning OFWs who desire to venture into small businesses.

Aside from the TNK job and business fair, the labor agency released a P40,000.00 livelihood assistance in form of Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego Karts) and Kabuhayan Starter KITS.

Ambulant vendors Alvin Manansala and Maricar Gavileno were recipients of the Nego Karts while Anna May Salonga received a Rice Trading Starter Kit.

Manansala, on behalf of his co-beneficiaries, thanked the DOLE for the timely livelihood intervention and assured that they would “harvest” their livelihood projects.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa DOLE sa tulong pangkabuhayang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa amin, malaking tulong po ito lalo na sa aming mga pamilya,” Manansala said, adding:

“Umasa po kayo na mas lalo pa po naming pagsisikapan na lumago pa ang aming mga negosyo.”

DOLE attached agencies, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, as well as the DTI, were in full force to oversee the job fair.

Other government agencies such as the Social Security System, PhilHealth, Department of Social and Welfare Development, and Department of Education, were also present to provide pre-employment services.

This year’s month-long Labor Day Celebration in the region anchors the theme “Pagpupugay sa Manggagawang Pilipino: Dangal ng Lahi, Kabalikat sa Progresibong Pagbabago.”