MANILA - McDonald’s on Wednesday committed to hire senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in its 40 stores in the Philippine capital.

McDonald’s is looking to hire some 80 senior citizens and 40 PWDs to work as “order presentors, drink drawers, table managers and guest relations staff” in its branches in the capital, according to a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by Manila and McDonald’s officials.

This is the first time the company formally partnered with the city government for an employment project for the elderly.

The fast food giant is piloting the program with its 40 company-owned stores in Manila, but will be rolled out later on to franchised stores in the capital, McDonalds Philippines managing director Margot Torres told ABS-CBN News.

Elderly staff members can earn about P5,000 a month by working for a maximum of 4 hours a day, either between 8 a.m. and 12 noon or between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m, according to the MOA.

Disabled employees will receive regular salaries for work up to 8 hours a day with 2 rest days, it said.

“Direct hiring lang ang aming ginagawa. Hindi kami nagha-hire ng contractual at endo. Commitment namin yan,” Torres said.

“Ang training na binibigay namin sa crew at managers, yan din ang training sa mga McDonalds sa ibang bansa,” she said.

McDonald's has 31 senior citizen employees in branches outside Manila, but implementing the program in the capital city is “special” for the fast food giant, Torres said.

“Dito po una nagbukas ang kauna-unahang McDonalds sa Pilipinas, sa Morayta noong 1981,” she said. “Kami ay partner ng Manila sa pagbibigay ng fair and equal opportunities.”

All 120 employees who will qualify for the program will be “entitled to receive proportionate 13th-month pay” and “included in the group life insurance” provided by Golden Arches Development Corporation, McDonald’s operator in the Philippines.

“We want our senior citizens, PWDs to be a part of society and help our economy,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said minutes before he signed the agreement.

“We want to increase their buying capacity,” he said. “If Americans and Japanese (senior citizens) can do it, Filipinos also can.”

All applicants must provide a medical certificate to prove that they are still fit to work despite their advanced age and disabilities, according to the memorandum.

The Manila Police District waived police clearance fees for senior citizens and PWDs to help them with the application process, Moreno said.

Jollibee, the country’s largest fast food operator, implemented a similar hiring scheme last month after Moreno urged fast food chains in Manila to provide jobs for the capital’s elderly and disabled residents.