Jollibee to hire elderly, persons with disabilities in Manila stores

MANILA (UPDATE) - Four restaurants under Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) said on Friday it committed to hire the elderly and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the city of Manila, a first in the 4-decade history of the Philippines’ largest fast-food operator.

Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal and Greenwich are looking to hire 78 senior citizens and 39 mute and deaf Manileños for its 39 branches in the capital city, said Fernan Bermejo, officer-in-charge of the city’s Public Employment Sevice Office (PESO).

The elderly will be asked to do “light tasks” like helping customers follow up orders and serve as ushers, Bermejo told ABS-CBN News.

Hired senior citizens can earn as much as P5,000 a month and will only work for a maximum of 4 hours a day, according to the Memorandum of Agreement signed by JFC and Moreno.

Qualified elderly workers can only be assigned during office-hour shifts or between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the document read.

“Titingnan natin kung ano 'yung bagay sa kanila, kakayanan nila,” said Joseph Tanbuntiong, JFC country business group head.

(We will see which tasks would suit them, depending on their capabilities.)

“Dapat 'yung nag-eenjoy sila at nakaka-contribute din sila sa tindahan natin,” Tanbuntiong told ABS-CBN News.

(It must be something that they enjoy doing and also something that contributes to our store operations.)

The city government will prioritize the applications of senior citizens living near JFC fast-food chains, Bermejo said.

“Mas okay kung 'yung walking distance lang ang bahay [sa store] para hindi na mahirapan,” he said.

(It would be better if they can walk to the store so that they would not have a hard time.)

Each of the 39 stores will hire one deaf or mute person as a regular employee, Bermejo said. The screening process, which includes medical examinations, is expected to start next week.

“Ang gusto lang namin, everybody should be given equal opportunity... to go back to a normal life for them to feel that they are still part and needed by the society,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said in a press conference.

(What we want is to give everybody an equal opportunity.)

The agreement was signed weeks after Moreno appealed to
fast-food chains in the capital to give Manila’s senior citizens and PWDs a chance to contribute to society.

• Isko urges fast-food chains in Manila: Hire senior citizens, PWDs

“Give them a chance, an opportunity to earn hanggat kaya pa nila (while they still can),” he said.

Jollibee “will look for other opportunities in other areas,” Tanbuntiong said when asked if the fast-food giant would hire senior citizens and PWDs in their branches in other cities.

“Gusto din namin ma-promote at magpractice ng inclusivity sa workplace namin,” he said.

(We also want to promote and practice inclusivity in our workplace.)

Another fast-food chain and a mall operator in the Manila have initially agreed to implement a similar program for the elderly and PWDs, Moreno said.

“Ang pakisuyo ko sa inyo, huwag niyo ipapahiya ang siyudad ng Maynila. Pagbutihan ninyo, sayang naman,” the mayor told senior citizens and PWDs present during the signing ceremony.

(What we ask of you is to make Manila proud. Do good in your work, because you don’t want to waste this opportunity.)

“Sana magbuti kayo kasi Pamahalaan ng Lungsod ng Maynila ang nakisuyo on your behalf. Prove to them that you can do it,” he said.

(I hope you will do well because the city government of Manila asked for favors on your behalf.)