FROM KABATAAN NEW MEDIA

Clear platform on jobs for 550,000 new graduates sought from presidential bets


Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino today urged presidential candidates to provide a clear and categorical platform on how to resolve the rising unemployment rate as 550,000 new graduates are expected to enter the work force this summer.

Palatino raised the alarm following independent think-tank Ibon Foundation's study stating that only three out of 10 fresh graduates will be able to find jobs.

“We fear that most of our new graduates will be joining the 3 million jobless Filipinos if the next government does not make decisive moves to create decent jobs.”

Palatino said that their group is posing the challenge to the next government because they have long given up on the Arroyo administration.

"For the last nine years our new graduates have been promised at least one million jobs every year but we have not seen a significant rise in employment. All statistics depicting an improvement in our employment rate are either misleading or short-lived," he said.

Palatino stressed that even the most popular jobs offered by business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are limited and cannot accommodate new graduates. New college degree holders will be competing for 50,000 jobs offered by BPO companies, he added.

The youth solon said that presidentiables should include in their legislative agenda the provision of decent jobs in the country instead of carrying on with Arroyo's labor export policy.

"The only option left for our new graduates is to leave the country and work abroad in professions that have little or nothing to do with their degrees. This is the sad reality in the employment crisis, our bright and competitive graduates are being pushed to go abroad when they can do so much more for the country."

He cited recent National Statistics Office (NSO) data showing that most jobless Filipinos are from the 15-24 age group.

“This is high time for the presidential bets to show the youth that they are determined to alleviate unemployment and poverty in the Philippines,” Palatino said.


BPO entrance exams to raise unemployment among new grads

Palatino also hit the mandatory entrance examination for wannabe BPO workers saying that it would only worsen the unemployment situation.

“BPOs are now even implementing a standardized competency exam to streamline the recruitment of their applicants so we expect a lesser number of new graduates being hired.”

He said that in the guise of "improving the quality of the BPO sector," the government hand in hand with BPOs are further narrowing down the prospects of employment for new graduates.

"This is supposed to be our 'sunshine industry'? We see no light shining for our new graduates if they continue to push through with these exams," he said.

The youth solon said that the P500 examination fee will also further discourage job seekers. ###