AN ORDINANCE mandating fast food chains to provide temporary employment to older people, may have debunked myths claiming that retirement ends life’s productivity. However, some working senior citizens think it is still too “short-lived.”
Ordinance No. 8598, which requires fast food chains, such as Jollibee Food Corp., to employ at least two senior citizens and one person with disabilities (PWD) per branch in Manila, is not seeking to grant the former regular employment soon.
“Meron lang until three months. Hindi sila nare-regularize kasi nga yung age nila diba? Yung PWD, there is a possibility na mag re-regularize kasi okay ang performance [at] maganda yung feedback,” Vilma Capellan, administrative officer of the Office of the Mayor, told Manila Pulse.
(It is only up to three months. They are not regularized because of their age, right? However, PWDs have a possibility that they would be regularized because their performance is okay, [and] they receive positive feedback.)
According to Capellan, PWDs receive a five-month contract with the possibility of permanent employment based on their performance. However, seniors can only work for three months at a daily minimum wage.
The 73-year-old Manuel Zabala, currently working as customer relations staff in a Chowking branch at SM Manila, shared his hopes of extending the contract for working senior citizens like him since re-applying would be “too time-consuming.”
“Sana palawigin nila yung program at saka sana mas marami pang tumanggap na establishment sa mga seniors at PWDs para halimbawa, katulad ko, tapos na ako rito ng three months eh, tapos malakas ako—gusto ko pa mag trabaho,” Zabala stated, as his contract would be valid until April 16 only.
(I hope they would extend the program and more establishments would accept seniors and PWDs because, for instance, like me, my employment here is done after three months, but I am still fit enough—I still want to work.)
He emphasized his desire to continue working, citing the simplicity of his duties and the lenient working conditions.
“Kapag may papasok, babatiin; at kapag marami na ang tao, tatanggalin lang yung mga pinagkainan,” Zabala described.
(When someone enters, I greet them; if there are many customers, I clean their tables.)
“Mga manager ko mababait; hindi nila nire-require humawak ng mabibigat. Kapag nakita nilang marami akong hawak na mabigat, tatawag agad yan, at sasabihin na tulungan kami. Ang turing nila samin ay parang tatay na,” he added, highlighting the familial bond within the workplace.
(My managers are kind; they do not require me to lift heavy things. When they caught me holding something heavy, they would call a fellow staff member to help me. They treat me like a father.)
Zabala wishes to extend his work contract to at least four months and take a two-month break before returning, adding that this could be his source of pastime since his daughter is already living independently.
“Hindi nga pwede malaman ng anak ko na nag tra-trabaho pa ako kasi ayaw niya; patitigilin niya ako,” he articulated.
(My daughter cannot know that I am still working because she is against it; she would make me quit.)
Although the seniors’ contracts can be regulated solely by the food company’s discretion, administrative officer Capellan said this happens on “very rare occasions” due to a “first come, first served” policy.
“Kasi, diba ikaw, eto ka, nag apply, marami pang nakapila diyan sa inyo. So, to give chance to other senior citizens, kaya yung iba nagsasabi, ‘Kelan kami tatawagan?’ Hindi pa kasi natatapos yung contract ng iba,” Capellan explained.
(When you apply, a line behind you waits for them to be hired. So, to give other senior citizens a chance, this is why others say, “When will we be called back?” because others’ contracts still have not expired.)
According to her, seniors and PWDs who apply must undergo an initial screening before they are advised to wait for three months, at best, for the application process.
Upon receiving a callback, applicants must undergo a free medical examination, police clearance, drug test, and vaccination to ensure they are physically fit to work before the company endorses them.
As of March 4, Jollibee Food Corp. has employed 207 senior citizens and 118 PWDs in Manila. – S. E. Samson/Manila Pulse
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