JS Contractor’s perfect link-up

From the outside, JS Contractor Inc. in Intramuros now appears more like an ordinary corporate office located in a six-story building behind the Manila Cathedral. Until last year, that same building teemed with people desperate to get job placements overseas. The change was brought about by the full linking of JS Contractor Inc. to the Internet and SMS where job seekers can apply or inquire about the status of their application online or via short messaging service (SMS).

"We wanted to spare our applicants, especially those from the provinces, from coming to Manila spending at least P1,000 a day and waiting for so long to be deployed overseas. We did this as part of our corporate social responsibility to our clients – the applicants themselves and our commitment to our principals abroad to immediately deploy the skills they require," said Mary Jean Pelayo-Borra, president of JS Contractor Inc., the professional human resource company that is also ISO (or International Organization of Standards) certified.

Though JS sought to "fully link" itself via the Internet and SMS with principals abroad, applicants here and with government regulators like the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) since two years ago, the actual connection was made early this year. The "perfected link-up" was launched to media last Nov. 15 at the JS Contractor Inc. office in Intramuros

This makes JS Contractor the perennial leader and trail blazer among its peers in the industry having made its mark as the first to serve the Taiwan market in 1991; the first to be (and still the only) ISO certified manpower recruitment agency; the first prefered human relations company to offer SMS and Internet application, follow- up, jobs searches, visa status update and deployment agency.

Its constant innovation makes JS Contractor truly deserving of numerous awards it received from a number of agencies in the past and current years. For instance it received in July 1997 to June 1998 the POEA special citation award for the highest volume of workers deployed; in July 1998 to June 2000 the POEA special citation for highest volume of skilled workers deployed; 2005 POEA award as top performer; January 2006, the POEA special commendation for exemplary management and recruitment capability and in January 2006, the POEA special commendation for exemplary welfare programs and allied services.

JS deployed 100,000 workers for the past five years of which 20,000 workers were sent to different parts of the world with Taiwan absorbing the biggest volume followed by the Middle East, Borra said.

Its project IRIS (Interactive Recruitment Information System) gives access to its clients and applicants to check the databank, apply online and monitor the workers’ documentation. Its office – with more than 150 computers in various phases of operations – are connected to a broadband (ADSL) carrier which links its data through the local area network accessible to everyone anytime, anywhere. Aside from LAN, its office is equipped with wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) areas.

IRIS has shortened the "waiting time" of applicants from the previous three months to a month only now, Borra said.

"They do not even have to come to Manila anymore. They just text us to search for the vacant positions, then send an e-mail their application and documentation, we do the follow up and they get updated via the SMS or text messaging," Borra said.

Its interview rooms – for applicants about to be deployed for final screening – are spacious enough for personal communications with the prospective candidate. In addition, there are multi purpose rooms complete with audio and video equipment that can accommodate 150 to 200 persons for final screening of applicants.

JS invested in other facilities like the inhouse trade testing facility for testing skills of painters, electricians, carpenters, plumbers, tile setters, pipe fitters, fabricators, steel fixers, ref and aircon technicians, machine operators, masons and welders.

Its video conferencing technology allows the company integrated services digital network (IDSN) connected to a polycom equipment, utilized when the need for interviewing workers from the provinces or abroad for updating or initial discussions.

The company has offices in Aklan, Cebu and Davao and is now a leading supplier of workers to the Caribbean, Canada, China, Asia, US, Europe and Africa.

"Our vision is to be a recognized leader in the field of overseas employment locally and in the world. But this vision must be attained through "ethical business practice, innovative systems and exceptional people while setting the standards of excellence for the overseas recruitment industry," Borra said.