Over 4,000 jobs up for grabs

CEBU, Philippines — Over 4,000 jobs await those looking for work in Cebu City and in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental today, Labor Day.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 said that of the 4,206 job vacancies, 3,051 are available during the “Labor Day Job Fair” participated in by 25 employers at the City Wing Atrium of SM Seaside City Cebu.

The jobs are call center representatives;  English as a Second Language (ESL) camp teacher; health care associates; service crew; customer service advisor; customer service associates; ESL teachers; online ESL instructors; both full time and part time;  outbound sales and sales associates.

The Dumaguete City job fair, it takes place at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center, with 1,155 vacancies that are up for grabs courtesy of 22 employers.

The conduct of the job fairs is in line with the 122nd Labor Day celebration themed “Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Manggagawang Pilipino, Kabalikat at Kasama sa Pag-asenso.”

This, as Cebu labor groups under the Sugbuanong Mamumuo Nagkahiusa Alang sa Living Wage (SANA ALL) coalition, will stage a “united mobilization” at the Fuente Osmena Circle in Cebu City to protest against “burgeoning economic struggles of the workers”.

SANA ALL consists of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KILUSAN), Partido Manggagawa (PM), and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).

It urged everyone to join them in pressuring Congress to pass the wage hike they petitioned “so that millions of Filipinos can afford a decent life they so rightfully deserve”.

“Until that day comes, together we shout – DUGANG SWELDO I-BALAOD! SANA ALL SA P150!,” the group said, in a statement.

In today’s Labor Day celebration, they will collectively push for a living wage, regularization of employment, opposition to the “repression of trade union and strike rights”, and resistance against the proposed Charter Change.

The labor groups challenged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the Senate, and the Congress to adhere to the 1987 Philippine Constitution for a living wage of a family of five is P1,100 in Metro Manila, and P1,268 in Central Visayas.

AMA SUGBO-KMU will also bring up issues on Labor Day, like trade union repression, red tagging, and intimidation to prevent workers from joining unions.

The SANA ALL organizations would unite in action against the proposed Charter Change and against the increasing US forces participation in the Balikatan Exercises, where the Philippines is used as a venue for US challenges to China.

AMA SUGBO-KMU also called on on other labor groups, independent unions, and workers, both regular and contractual, to join today’s protest movement.

“As we celebrate this year’s Labor Day, we highlight the immense contribution of working people. The working class has always been the backbone of our economy and society. We built the foundation of every industry, making value through our own capabilities, knowledge, and experiences across all sectors,” SANA ALL said, in the same statement,

“Yet, despite the vital role of workers in making modern societies possible, we remain as exploited, sidelined, and undervalued as ever,” it added.

As part of today’s activities, there will be a joint program in Fuente Osmena at 8 a.m. attended by unions under AMA SUGBO-KMU, PM, Workers for Liberation, and BMP, along with various other sectors.(CEBU NEWS)