Business Groups to Pledge One Million New Jobs for Unemployed Workers in the Philippines
Several business groups in the Philippines will pledge at least one million new jobs for unemployed workers to speed up the process of economic recovery in the country.
The business groups led by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) will sign a pledge for one million jobs on June 30, along with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Philippine Constructors Association, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines, Information Technology and Business Process Management, and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines.
ECOP Vice President and Organizing Committee Chair of the National Conference of Employers George Barcelon expressed that the agreement signing would culminate the five-day 42nd National Conference of Employers (NCE42).
Barcelon stated, “Part of the conference will be a pledging session wherein organizations are urged to determine their capacities to employ in six months.”
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the unemployment rate in the Philippines increased by 8.7% in April, equating to approximately 4.14 million unemployed Filipinos.
The unemployment rate increase was due to the recent reimplementation of quarantine restrictions in certain areas to address the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Barcelon noted that government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were expected to take part in the conference.
The conference will carry the theme “Reform. Rebound. Recover”.
ECOP reiterated its commitment to promoting industrial harmony, social justice, job preservation, and national growth in the Philippines.
The NCE42 will have five half-day sessions from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. on June 21, 23, 25, 28, and 30, via Zoom.
