BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ONLY 10 per cent of the roughly 2,400 vacancies advertised at three job fairs held last year were filled, a press conference for the next job fair in Tutong disclosed on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Home Affairs building in the capital, the Head of the Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency (APTK) said the authorities were investigating the causes of the shortfall.

The APTK co-organised the series of “mini” job fairs with the Department of Economic Planning and Development, as an initiative to address Brunei’s local unemployment issue.

APTK Head Hj Afero Eswandy Hj Mohammad said at the press conference that they were collaborating with the Labour Department to “research” into the lack of jobs taken up.

“Once it (the research) is ready, we will inform you,” Hj Afero told the media.

It was previously reported that jobseekers not meeting the required academic qualifications or experience, suitable applicants rejecting job offers due to pay or working conditions and lack of transport, were among the factors to the low uptake of jobs.

This year, the mini job fairs will be held in a number of mukim (sub-districts) in Brunei-Muara, by zones, as well as in other districts.

“After that, InsyaAllah, a job fair on a large scale will be held at the end of this year,” Hj Afero said.

The first of the mini job fairs, the “Brunei Mini Job Fair 2014 @ Tutong”, will be held from February 4 to 5.

Nearly 400 job vacancies will be on offer at the fair, ranging from posts such as cashier to mechanical engineer.

As with the previous job fairs, this fair will feature an exhibition on careers and walk-in interviews.

Various services to facilitate local jobseekers — such as a “CV Clinic”, APTK registration, course registration and a counter for enquiries — will also be made available at the fair.

The “Brunei Mini Job Fair 2014 @ Tutong” will be held at the Dewan Seri Kenangan of the Tutong Community Hall Complex from 9am to 5pm.

Jobseekers from all districts were welcomed and were advised to dress smart.

They should also bring their CVs and other relevant documents.

Those who have yet register as jobseekers were urged to do so during the event so that they can obtain their APTK card.

For further information, the public can either visit APTK’s Facebook page, “APTK Brunei”, or call APTK at 2223225. The public can also email the agency at aptk@outlook.com.

The Brunei Times