CEBU, Philippines - Eighty-two job applicants were hired on the spot during a job fair held Saturday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.
More than 1,000 applicants, mostly female flocked to the third local and overseas job fair conducted by Mandaue City government.
Of the 82 applicants hired for local employment, 60 were women and 22 were men.
Magno Garcia, head of the city's Public Employment Service Office (PESO) said there were ten overseas companies and 26 local companies that participated in the fair.
He said the job vacancies for local hiring included 1,753 for women and 963 for men while there were 11,949 for women and 10,845 for men for overseas work.
There are still 332 applicants who passed the initial examinations for both overseas and local employment.
Assisting the PESO were personnel from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office.
Garcia said the job fair is timed with the needs of companies for the Christmas season and the opening of new businesses in Mandaue City specifically department stores.
He said among the participating companies, department stores were the most sought by applicants.
Leizel Butihen, human resource officer of Savemore Market and SM Supermarket, said two of their stores, one in Maguikay and another one in Canduman, will open on November 3, while a third one in Basak will follow soon.
In view of this, she said, the stores will hire more than 100 salesclerks, cashiers, warehouse men, stock clerks, and office positions.
She said the direct hiring offers a minimum salary plus benefits.
She said college graduates will be regularized depending on their performance.