Job seekers line up at the Capitol Job fair for the Labor Day celebration 2014. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Thousands lined up to try their luck in getting employment in several job fairs while some workers took to the streets to voice out their disappointment over low wages, lack of job security and poor work environment.
The complaints of meager pay and benefits have not prevented Melrose Arda, a 22-year-old single mom, from joining the over 2,000 applicants who queued under the heat of the sun in yesterday’s job fair at the Capitol.
“As a single mom, there is a big need for a more stable job to provide for my child’s needs,” said Arda, currently a freelance web designer and online retailer. She holds a diploma in Hospitality
Management from the Cebu Technological University.
Aside from applying for posts related to her degree, she also tried her luck in sales which were included in over 3,000 job vacancies in 42 companies that participated in Capitol’s job fair.
Of the 2,000 registered applicants at the Capitol, only nine were hired on the spot as of 1 p.m. yesterday.
Yesterday’s job applicants came from as far as Bohol, such as Nelson Flores, 30, who is currently a substitute elementary teacher in Bohol. With a degree in Elementary Education, Flores applied for different job vacancies, hoping to augment his family’s income and to gain additional work experience.
Another applicant, Cedrome Enrique, 30, was seeking better wages.
“Gamay kaayo’g sweldo (the salary was so low),” he said, referring to his work as a computer technician. He plans to go abroad but needs a job while waiting for his visa.
At the Cebu City Sports Complex, another job fair also became a magnet for thousands of applicants who endured the heat to try their luck in gaining employment abroad through the activity of Cebu City’s Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP).
DOLE-sanctioned job fairs were also held in SM Mall Cebu City and SM Mall Consolacion.
Ma. Suzanne O. Ardosa, Assistant Department Head II of DMDP, said 27 agencies joined the overseas job fair.
Maria, 22, of barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City, wants to work as a househelp in Kuwait.
“I studied housekeeping for two months and I graduated last November. This is my first time in applying for a job. I hope to get a job so I could help my parents,” she said.
May M. Delicana of the Admiral Overseas Employment Corporation said they had 500 job vacancies and would give the slots on the spot to skilled workers who had experience working abroad.
Marilou Eborda, 32, of barangay Bulacao, Pardo, hopes to land a job as room attendant in Dubai.
“I prefer to work abroad because of higher pay,” she said.
Rally
Meanwhile at the vicinity of Metro Colon, laborers marched, chanted and brought banners to express what they said is a lamentable situation of the sector.
Over 3,000 workers joined the rally.
Renante Peliño, 37, said there’s a need to increase the wages. He and his companions are dismayed with the P13-raise that was granted instead of the P125 contained in their petition.
They also want the approval of Security of Tenure Bill for the workers, hitting the contractualization of labor.
“Kamo mosugot ba diay mog 5 months contractual? Kay ngano, lima ra sad mo ka buwan mokaon? Dapat naay tarong nga trabaho.” Peliño told CDN.
Prof. Phoebezoe Maria Sanchez, vice president of All-UP Academic Employees Union- Cebu Chapter, said that the only option of the government is to provide the smallest demand from the laborers.
“May 1 is a historic event. This is the only day that we can express fully what we feel over the year. One day just to scream out!” she said.
Sanchez criticized the Aquino administration for failing to address the demands of the struggling laborers.
“For so many years Aquino is in office, they never gave in to any of labor’s demands. Wala ta’y pag-asa sa administrasyon ni Aquino. (We don’t have hope in Aquino’s administration.)”
Students also joined the rally which police said was peaceful.
At least 100 policemen were deployed in areas in Cebu City where the workers converged.
(REPORT BYINTERNS ROSEMARIE R. CANANEA, NINA BIANCA SAYSON, IRISH MAIKA LAM AND ANIE M. PAUJANA)