Event gives jobseekers a fair chance of finding employment

Manufacturing, oil and gas are among fields represented at event expected to attract 6,000.

DUBAI //The emirate's biggest Filipino-run job fair takes place next month, but organisers stress jobseekers of any nationality are welcome.

The Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association hopes 6,000 people will attend the event on November 11.

More than 20 companies will offer jobs in fields including oil and gas, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, sales and retail. The association's first fair in March drew 4,500 people. Most were Filipinos, but Indians, Pakistanis and Yemenis were also among the crowd. A second fair in June attracted 2,000 people.

"We all experienced a significant drop in the hiring levels last year but the UAE job market is still relatively healthy," said Sheryll Bacay, 33, a senior HR business support specialist in Dubai who is president of the association.

Ms Bacay said although there were many redundancies last year, companies took measures to help those who lost their jobs, such as allowing them to keep their visas until they found new work.

"This has helped the gloomy workforce to stay positive and give way for the UAE job market's strong comeback," she said.

"Companies are poised to hire more people … we've got more than 200 positions waiting to be filled at this job fair alone."

Fil-HR will also build a database of the unsuccessful applicants who would be referred to other companies, said Zeny Requizo, the chairman of the job fair project.

The fair will be held between 8am and 2pm at the Al Safa Sports Hall on Al Wasl Road in Dubai.

For more information, visit filhr.org or email [e-mail].