At least 1,000 jobs are available in a jobs-and-opportunities fair specially set for persons with disability on Dec. 5, Wednesday, the Labor department said.
The job openings are in the fields of BPO, electronics, advertising, hotel, health and wellness, travel, media, logistics, manpower and security services, sales, property management, pharmaceutical, and memorial services, among others.
The day-long fair, a partnership between the Department of Labor and Employment and some 30 Rotary Clubs of District 3830, will be held at the covered walk of the Quezon City Hall. It is being held as a special offering of the labor department which celebrates its 85th founding anniversary this week.
This is also Rotary’s contribution in the observance of the International Day for Persons with Disability, and part of the government’s awareness campaign encouraging private sector employers to allocate one percent of their workforce to persons with disability.
Republic Act 10524 mandates agencies of government to employ persons with disability to comprise at least one percent of their employees, while it provides incentives to private enterprises with more than 100 employees who take in disadvantaged persons into their workforce.
The Rotary Clubs from District 3830 mobilized more than 30 employers from various parts of Metro Manila to the activity, on top of a host of companies invited by DOLE.
Aside from jobs, the special event will also provide skills and livelihood opportunities. While DOLE conducts skills profiling of participants, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will provide livelihood and skills training for those interested during the event. The other offices collaborating in the activity are the Public Employment Service Offices, the National Council on Disability Affairs and the city government of Quezon City.
All local government units in Metro Manila were invited to participate by sending qualified PWDs from their respective communities to the job fair.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and other labor officials, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, District Governor Alfredo Montecillo of Rotary International District 3830 and the Rotarians from the various Rotary clubs in the district will attend the event.
PWDs may pre-qualify for available positions or employers who wish to participate in the job fair may register at philjobnet.gov.ph.
Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday called for the full implementation of laws to empower PWDs, who have very low participation in discount privileges because many of them do not have the PWD ID and are unable to go out.
While there is enough laws to give PWDs social protection and economic support, they cannot avail of them because of “low awarenes.”
A Philippine Institute for Development Studies 2010 survey showed that only about three in 10 PWDs in the rural areas were aware of the Magna Carta for PWDs.
Under the Magna Carta, PWDs are entitled to 20-percent discount for the purchase of medicines in all drugstores, medical and dental services including diagnostic and laboratory fees, and professional fees of attending doctors.
They are also entitled to the same discount from business establishments like hotels and restaurants, admission fees on theaters and movie houses, as well as transportation fare for domestic land, air and sea travel.
To avail of these benefits and privileges, a PWD must apply for an ID at the city or municipal social welfare office.