Ever since the 1970s, the Philippine sugar industry has been in the doldrums. And when one thinks about sugar workers, one imagines the 1980s image of emaciated, hungry and malnourished sacada. But this is no longer so. Stable prices of sugar in the world market has enabled the sugar industry to recover from its nadir during the past decades.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), sugar cane farming is the second most in demand job in the country. Demand for sugar farm workers is second only to demand for call center agents with 28,000 job openings.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said there were 12,400 job openings for sugarfarmers and 100 vacancies for sugarcane grinders as of the end of March.
“This is the first time that sugarcane farmers figured in the top 20 most in demand jobs. The development is a welcome surprise since agriworkers are not normally included in the list,” Baldoz said.
“The industry has not been affected by any development so it is stable and that means good investment whether as planter or miller,” Secretary Baldoz said.
According to Sec. Baldoz, DOLE is giving focus to agricultural jobs since unemployment is highest in the rural areas. There are 19 sugar producing provinces in the country and an estimated 700,000 workers in the sugar industry sector.
The sugar industry employs about 700,000 workers in 19 sugar-producing provinces in the country. Noting that there is a need for jobs for non-skilled and semi-skilled workers who comprise the bulk of the unemployed, agribusiness will be able to absorb such workers.
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