MORE than 200,000 employment opportunities will be offered today, Wednesday, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) holds simultaneous job fairs nationwide as part of the celebration of the 122nd Labor Day.
In a television interview, DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said at least 204,818 job vacancies will be offered by 2,441 employers in close to 100 job fair sites located in different parts of the country.
“Since it is Labor Day, the program will be for the workers, about the workers, and a response to the needs of workers,” said Benavidez.
“We will have over 200,000 job vacancies up for grabs,” he added.
He said most of the jobs to be offered are in manufacturing, accommodation, and retail and include production worker/operator; customer service representatives; cashier, bagger, sales clerk; laborer; carpenter; and service crew.
In the National Capital Region, the job fairs are at the San Andres Sports Complex, Malate, Manila; Quezon City Hall Walkway, SM City Novaliches, SM City Fairview, SM City North EDSA, SM City Centerpoin-Sta. Mesa, Music Hall, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; SM City Grand Central, Caloocan City; SM City Valenzuela, Vista Mall Taguig, Paranaque Social Hall and Sports Complex, Robinsons Place Las Pinas, SM Southmall, Las Pinas City, Robinsons Metro East, Pasig City; Pateros Municipal Hall Quadrangle, and Ayala South Park, South Park District, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, the job fairs are at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, Baguio City; SM City Baguio, and DOLE Kalinga Field Office Grounds, Tabuk, Kalinga Provincial Plaza, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
In the Ilocos Region, the job fairs are at Robinsons Ilocos, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur PNP Grand Stand, Camp Diego Silang, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union; Pangasinan PESO, Capitol Complex, Lingayen, Pangasinan; CSI Atrium, Dagupan City, Pangasinan; and Magic Mall, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.
In Cagayan Valley, the job fairs are at the SM City Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Community Center, Centro Poblacion, Ilagan City, Isabela; Robinsons Place Santiago, Santiago City; Ammungan Hall, Provincial Capitol, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; and Provincial Government Gymnasium, Cabarroguis, Quirino.
Job fairs will also be held in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
DMW JOB FAIR
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will also hold its own job fair today, Wednesday, at the Robinsons Galleria Ortigas in Quezon City.
In a social media post, the DMW said the Mega Jobs Fair will be held starting at 10 a.m. at Level 1 of the mall located just across the agency’s main office.
In a phone interview, DMW spokesman Toby Nebrida said at least 4,000 employment opportunities abroad shall be offered in the event.
“So far, (there will be) 18 participating agencies with over 4,000 job offerings,” said Nebrida.
Jobs to be offered include those in the Middle East, Asia, and North American countries.
DOUBLE PAY
Workers reporting for work are entitled to additional pay, with May 1 a regular holiday.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 6-2024, the DOLE said that for work rendered during a regular holiday, the employer shall pay 200 percent of the employee’s wage for the first eight hours and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate for overtime work.
Work rendered during a regular holiday that falls on the employee’s rest day means a 30 percent additional pay on the basic wage of 200 percent and an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on overtime work.
DOLE said that if the employee does not work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s wage.
For workers taking the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 to work, the DOLE said they can ride the train for free today.
“This is a Labor Day treat for workers on May 1,” said DOLE.
It said workers can ride the MRT and LRT 2 for free between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
