Quick-service restaurant giant McDonald’s Philippines strengthened its commitment to being an equal opportunity employer by officially returning its Alternative Workforce program, signing an agreement with Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna to resume hiring of eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the city of Manila this year. The company’s program initially began in 2019 but had been temporarily halted due to the pandemic.
“In addition to offering consistent employment opportunities to our regular full-time workers and working students, we remain steadfast in our commitment to have a diverse and inclusive workplace. We proudly extend these opportunities to out-of-school youth, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities [PWDs] through our community hiring programs, including Workforce Immersion, Alternative Workforce, and SPES. Through these initiatives such as the recent partnership we did along with the city of Manila, we are not only opening our doors but also empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to access world-class training and skill development, affirming our belief in their potential and their right to a chance for a better life,” said Margot B. Torres, McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director.
Qualified applicants will undergo a training program approved by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Manila, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Hired senior citizens and PWDs will be assigned to perform tasks complementing those of existing crew members, which include being an order presenter, drink drawer, table manager, and overall guest relations.
Under the agreement, senior citizens will be assigned work for not more than four hours per day for five days a week, with shifts set at 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Meanwhile, PWDs will perform work in shifts also applied to regular crew members, but not to exceed eight hours a day.
Since the company began employing senior citizens and PWDs in 2019, McDonald’s Philippines has hired a total of 62 senior citizens and PWDs who have been employed in different stores nationwide.
Resuming the program after the pandemic, McDonald’s Philippines shared that they have committed to grow this program and employ 500 PWD and senior citizen hires across key pilot cities this 2023: Pasig, Pasay, Antipolo, Caloocan, Makati, Quezon City, Marikina, and Mandaluyong. These 500 hires will be deployed to 250 stores nationwide, giving each store a maximum of two hires per store (either a senior citizen or PWD).
Since opening its first ever McDonald’s store in Morayta in 1981, McDonald’s Philippines has practiced a direct-hiring policy for all employees. Today, McDonald’s is proudly operating 39 stores in Manila, with each establishment employing an average of 80-100 residents from the local community.
