UV, DOLE to hold job fair on Sept. 30

CEBU – The University of the Visayas in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment-7 and a consortium of manning agencies headed by the Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council Inc. will hold a job fair and career orientation dubbed “Maritime Career Fair and Special Recruitment 2008” on September 30 at the UV-Main campus.

The activity is aimed at addressing the shortage of high-paying overseas maritime occupations by encouraging graduating high school students to seriously pursue careers as seafarers or win back interested candidates who landed in other courses or jobs.

Among the topics that will be discussed during the orientation are the status of the Philippine Maritime Industry, what the industry can offer, the industry’s requirements in terms of skills, scholarships and sponsorships.

Industry figures reveal that the total demand for crews, based on the 7,360 new vessels up for delivery until 2012, is 147,160. As of 2007, there is a shortage of about 16,000 officers and the Philippines is considered as a significant global supplier of seafarers.

The participating manning companies are Island Overseas Transport Corporation, Magsaysay-MITSUI O.S.K. Marine Inc., Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Jebsens Maritime Inc., Leonis Navigation Company Inc., Great Southern Maritime Corporation and Grace Marine Shipping Corporation.

The job fair and the career orientation will be held at the T-Square, Ground Floor of the Teresita Building and the CRID Room of the UV Main Campus at the Colon corner D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City. It will start at 10 a.m. and will end at 4 p.m. (PR) (THE FREEMAN)