Fox Box | The PWD Forum

Persons with disabilities in the Philippines have been given a chance to prove their worth.

In Makati, its deaf-mute residents have been invited in a job fair held at the Activity Center of the Ayala Malls in Circuit Makati. Among of the 26 companies that have been “intent of hiring persons with disability (PWDs)” are the George Optical, China Bank, Regalong Pambahay, Nail-A-Holics, Group Perspective Incorporated, CNT, Guill-Berns, BFL Bookstore, Market Place Christian Church Transport & Multi-Purpose Coooperative, Philippine Survey Research Center, and Receivers and Liquidators. There were also food establishments such as the Samjin Amook, The Burgery, Torch Circuit Lane, Fox Box, Dunkin Donuts, Andok’s Lechon, Rackshaack Circuit, Serenitea, and Mesa Restaurant; shopping centers such as the Mi Department Store, Rustans Super Center, Uniqlo, and Bench; and recruitment agencies Mirof Resources Incorporated and More Than Jobs. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-Ibig), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) were in the job fair, too.

In Quezon City, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has partnered with the 30 Rotary Clubs of District 3830 to conduct a one-day job fair where private companies and government agencies in Metro Manila have participated. Job-seeking PWDs or employers just have to register at philjobnet.gov.ph. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will also provide livelihood and skills training during the event.

“The special activity will highlight compliance with the law mandating offices of government to set aside one percent of the positions to persons with disabilities. The same law, Republic Act 10524, encourages private enterprises with more than 100 employees to reserve one percent of their workforce to the disadvantaged persons,” the labor department stated in an article.

In Iloilo, seven PWDs have grabbed the chance for a possible employment in a two-day job fair facilitated by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO). A total of 124 companies offered more than around 60,000 job vacancies—most of which are for overseas employment—in malls as service crew and cashiers, in drug stores as sales clerk and pharmacy assistant, and in supermarkets as bagger and cashiers, among others. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) also joined the event.

While this is a welcome event, The PWD Forum hopes that the private companies that joined the job fair haven’t done so to exempt themselves from labor law compliance inspection for one year. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has promised that immunity in an interview at the Jobs and Opportunities Fair for PWDs at the covered walk of Quezon City Hall.

“The law mandates that employer or business establishments to hire PWDs of at least 1 percent of their business compliment. If there’s a company that will hire more than one percent or will reach 10 percent, I will give immunity from inspection for one year.” ~ Silvestre Bello III