SM Foundation, German-Philippine businesses partner to boost jobs

MANILA, Philippines — The SM Foundation and the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently forged a partnership to help boost employment and upgrade the country’s workforce.

The GPCCI and SMFI signed a memorandum of understanding where both parties agreed to collaborate on employment-related activities across the country, including holding special jobs fairs in SM malls, and developing short-course training programs tailored to member-organizations of the chamber.

SMFI earlier launched the J.O.B.S (Job Opportunities Building Skills) initiative, which aims to help alleviate unemployment and underemployment and reduce job distribution gaps by providing better opportunities through job matching and enhancing employability thru upskilling.

GPCCI president Maan Mariano said the MOU “formalized a very powerful partnership dedicated to building a job-ready workforce, upscaling talent and connecting businesses.”

“This MOU is more than just a paper that’s going to be inked. It is a collaboration to a commitment to shaping the future of employment in the Philippines. GPCCI has always remained to be committed to promoting, facilitating dual education and training approaches, as well as supporting initiatives that bridge the skills gap between the workforce and industry needs,” Mariano said.

She cited a recent global survey specific to German companies that which showed that 58 percent found a positive business situation in the Philippines while 60 percent expect growth in the next 12 months.

SMFI executive director for education programs Carmen Linda Atayde said learning must go beyond the classroom and should lead to real careers and economic mobility.

“That is why our partnership with the GPCCI under the J.O.B.S. program is so meaningful, and this initiative connects skills training with actual employment opportunities, ensuring that education truly transforms lives through short course training, job fairs, and strong industry linkages. We are preparing individuals not just to find jobs, but to build careers in high demand industries,” Atayde said.

The short courses and skills training, which include artificial intelligence, computer security and related subjects, will be conducted by experts from the National University and the Asia-Pacific College.

In 2024, SM Supermalls successfully hosted 183 job fairs in its various malls nationwide, connecting about 107,000 job seekers with almost 6,000 employers, with around 14,500 applicants hired on-the-spot.