Under a recently signed agreement, both parties committed to collaborating on employment-related activities nationwide, including specialized job fairs in SM malls and the development of short-course training programs tailored to member companies of the German business chamber.
The initiative aligns with SM Foundation’s J.O.B.S. (Job Opportunities Building Skills) program, which aims to address unemployment and job distribution gaps by enhancing employability through skills development and job matching.
GPCCI president Maan Mariano emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, "This is more than just a [piece of] paper that's going to be inked. It is a collaboration to a commitment to shaping the future of employment in the Philippines."
She also noted that a recent survey among German companies operating in the country indicated optimism, with 58 percent seeing a positive business climate and 60 percent expecting growth in the next 12 months.
SM Foundation executive director for education programs Carmen Linda Atayde underscored the need for education to translate into meaningful careers.
"That is why our partnership with the GPCCI under the J.O.B.S. program is so meaningful, and this initiative connects skills training with actual employment opportunities," Atayde said.
As part of the collaboration, short courses and skills training will be offered in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, computer security, and digital technologies. These will be conducted by experts from the National University and the Asia-Pacific College.
This latest partnership follows a similar initiative launched in August 2023, when SM Foundation signed an agreement with the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines to provide upskilling opportunities for employees within AmCham’s network. The collaboration allowed more than 800 member companies to participate in SM job fairs nationwide.
Workers under these programs gain access to courses such as digital marketing for e-commerce, cloud computing, business analytics, and cybersecurity, helping them stay competitive in the evolving job market.
In 2024, SM Supermalls hosted 183 job fairs nationwide, connecting around 107,000 job seekers with nearly 6,000 employers. About 14,500 applicants were hired on the spot, reinforcing SM’s role as a key employment hub.
The job fairs also feature government one-stop shop services for employment-related documents, including TIN, NBI and police clearances, SSS, PAGIBIG, PhilHealth, and national ID registration.
