DOLE mounts job fairs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted 22 job fairs nationwide as part of the celebration of Independence Day yesterday.

About 70,000 local and overseas jobs were made available to jobseekers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said.

Of the 3,177 applicants, around 200 were hired on the spot.

A total of 171 applicants were hired for local jobs. Seven others were hired for overseas employment.

Officials said 1,065 were considered near-hires as they still need to submit additional requirements.

The DOLE mounted more job fairs this year compared to previous years to generate employment for workers nationwide.

Bello said they recorded an increase in the number of job fairs conducted by the DOLE.

He said around 9,000 workers were hired by different companies that joined job fairs during the Labor Day celebration last month.

Dominique Tutay, DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment director, said more than 1,000 job fairs are being held annually.