With record unemployment and many Filipinos left without jobs brought by the impact of the pandemic, Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar believes the need for more virtual recruitment fairs is urgent in an effort to help displaced workers and everyone seeking a job.
Through House Resolution 1597, Villar urged the Labor department, Civil Service Commission (CSC) and other relevant state agencies to intensify online job fairs to further ease unemployment in the country, accelerate the economy and keep families afloat during the economic crisis.
“Various government agencies must innovate in generating job opportunities during the pandemic and health crisis,” Villar said, pointing out that there is an increasing demand for virtual career platforms resulting from the pandemic.
Philippine unemployment rate soared to 10.4% last year or about 4.5 million Filipinos became jobless, the highest in 15 years, as thousands of establishments were forced to shut amid quarantines and plummeting activity. At one point, 7.2 million Filipinos were jobless in April 2020, the height of the government-imposed lockdown to contain the virus, while many more workers and businesses saw their incomes collapse.
Additionally, sectors with most displacements included manufacturing, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service, as well as the arts, entertainment and recreation.
“Virtual career platforms assist job applicants in finding unique opportunities and job vacancies,” said Villar.
Over 21,000 jobs were available in an online job fair spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration with mynimo.com in December last year. A total of 600 domestic firms and 15 licensed recruitment agencies participated.
The CSC, for its part, also held an online job fair in coordination with Jobstreet.com.
“With vaccination in the country to rollout in the next few days and as the economy is expected to rebound and gradually reopens, a roadmap on employment, jobs and opportunities must be set in place, taking into consideration health protocols and government restriction on mass gatherings,” she added.
Negros Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (3rd District) also co-authored the resolution.