By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter
A TECH COMPANY is launching a location-based job recruitment app aiming to back 500 companies’ employment efforts this year.
Appscape Corp. developed the LapitJobs application platform and LapitTauhan recruitment portal for businesses, which the company said would help business recruitment efforts amid the pandemic.
Appscape President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph David A. Du, in a phone interview on Wednesday, said the app has a map displaying available jobs at the users’ location.
He said this feature could help circumvent public transportation challenges by connecting prospective employees to jobs closer to them.
The app will show users their net pay, estimated transportation costs, and deducted taxes.
The entire application process can also be done online, including online interview scheduling and document submission. Mr. Du said the company is also distinct in terms of efficiency.
“Very physical pa ’yung dating ng documents (in other platforms)… It takes three to five days and then magbayad ka in actual. For businesses na kailangan mo ng tao ngayon, three to five business days — hindi siya masyadong option kasi ’yung operations mo naha-hamper na eh (The arrival of documents is still very physical in other platforms… It takes three to five days, then you have to pay. For businesses that need manpower now, three to five business days — that is not an option because your operations are being hampered).”
The platform, however, does not have government document verification tools, and does not request for company files with the Department of Trade and Industry, and Bureau of Internal Revenue.
“Hindi siya (documents) guarantee na legitimate ’yung business (The documents do not guarantee that the business is legitimate). All the applicant has to know that there’s a job opening then kayo na bahala magtingin (it’s up to you to check),” Mr. Du said.
LapitTauhan was launched in June for early company registration while the LapitJobs app will be rolled out this week.
To assist hiring during the pandemic, the company will be giving free job ads until the end of the year.
Other job platforms have also been rolling out programs addressing the pandemic. Jobstreet’s program for job-seekers includes a COVID-19 microsite offering job reports for employers. It introduced a new feature called #WorkNow to flag immediate hiring opportunities and availability.
The Philippine unemployment rate surged to 17.7% in April from a year earlier, the highest since the government adopted new definitions for the Labor Force Survey in 2005. This translates to 7.25 million unemployed Filipinos, or more than three times the 2.27-million unemployed a year earlier.
