Over 1,200 job opportunities were opened to Filipino workers on Tuesday, May 21, as the Philippines and the Czech Republic launched an exclusive job fair at Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City.
Spearheaded by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Czech Embassy in Manila, the fair featured 14 Czech employers and seven Philippine recruitment agencies with a total of 1,286 approved job orders across key sectors such as construction, transportation, food processing, manufacturing, logistics, and hospitality.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac underscored the collaboration between both governments and recruitment stakeholders in promoting ethical hiring practices. “This job fair is more than just a hiring event – it is a gateway to opportunity built on ethical recruitment and mutual respect,” Cacdac said.
He described the event as “quadrilateral,” highlighting the cooperation of four critical sectors: the Philippine and Czech governments, local recruitment agencies, and their Czech counterparts.
Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Karel Hejč reflected on the longstanding relationship between the two nations, tracing it back to the time of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s visit to the Czech Republic and the solidarity shown by Czechoslovaks during the Battle of Bataan.
“This moment really means a lot to us,” Hejč shared. “You, our future OFWs, will write the next chapter and I hope… it will be bright, prosperous, and beneficial to both parties.”
The job fair also marked the Philippines-Czech Republic Friendship Week, a celebration of diplomatic and cultural ties rooted in shared values such as decent work, legal migration, and ethical employment.
