Uniqlo Philippines eyes skills training for 3,000 youth in Manila, Valenzuela

UNIQLO Philippines is planning to provide technical skills training to over 3,000 youth in Manila and Valenzuela cities to boost their access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. 

In a briefing on Wednesday, UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Officer Geraldine Sia said the program marks its first initiative in the Philippines under the Japanese retailer’s UNIQLO PEACE FOR ALL program. 

“We chose youth employability and skills development as the focus of our first initiative in the Philippines,” she said. “It allows Uniqlo to translate global purpose into locally relevant action,” she added.

Uniqlo Philippines will carry out the program after signing a memorandum of agreement with nongovernment organization Plan International Pilipinas.

The partners will provide skills training to participants aged 18 to 30 based in the two cities for a three-year period.

It said the youth face many barriers to employment like limited access to skills training, Ms. Sia said.

Cathy Seco, project director at Plan International Pilipinas, said the initiative will target marginalized groups, especially those who are not in school. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz