Manila: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have recently returned from the Middle East are being encouraged to attend the upcoming nationwide job fairs on Labor Day, as announced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday. Assistant Secretary Lennard Serrano of DOLE extended the invitation to these workers, emphasizing the opportunity to explore various job openings both within the country and abroad during the events scheduled for Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the job fairs will feature participating employers offering positions overseas, alongside local employment opportunities. In an interview, Serrano highlighted that while OFWs are back in the country, they can benefit from local employment programs, including local employment facilitation, which the department offers.

The 124th Labor Day celebration on May 1 will showcase approximately 165,000 job opportunities spread across 89 locations nationwide. DOLE is optimistic about surpassing last year's numbers of job seekers hired on the spot (HOTS) during this year's event. Serrano expressed the department's goal to exceed the previous year's HOTS placement rate, which stood at 15.07 percent, an improvement from the 11.10 percent recorded the year before.