MANILA, Philippines. – A new batch of customer relations staff composed of senior citizens (SC) and persons with disabilities (PWD) will soon be serving customers again in select Jollibee Group-owned restaurants in Antipolo City as Jollibee Group and Antipolo City government signed a new agreement that provides jobs to qualified SCs and PWDs.
The initiative, which is part of Jollibee Group’s inclusive employment program, is a crucial step in the company’s thrust to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
“Jollibee Group is committed to supporting programs that enable SCs and PWDs to remain engaged and productive members of our society,” said Ruth Angeles, Jollibee Group Vice President, and HR Head for Philippines. “We are happy to once again collaborate with the Antipolo City government and provide qualified SCs and PWDs the opportunity to join us in our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone.”
Jollibee Group and Antipolo City government started this partnership in February 2020, benefitting over 40 senior citizens and PWDs from various communities in the city. The program was discontinued due to the pandemic.
With this partnership renewal, some qualified 36 SCs and PWDs will be part of the first batch of beneficiaries and will be deployed in nine participating stores by the third week of August. The participating brands include Chowking branches in Unciano, Marcos Highway, and Oliveros; Burger King branches in Vermon and Antipolo; Greenwich branch in SM Masinag; and Jollibee branches in SM Masinag, New Lores Antipolo, and Antipolo Capitol.
The nine participating stores will conduct a sensitivity workshop among its store teams on disability awareness and inclusion to allow them to properly and effectively communicate, interact, and work with SCs and PWDs.
“This is an essential part of the program to ensure that everyone in the team can work in harmony and be able to leverage on one another’s strength,” Angeles added.
The signing of the memorandum of agreement was held last July 18, and was led by City Mayor Casimiro A. Ynares III; Maria Fe B. Iquin, Manager of Antipolo Public Employment Service Office; and Mary Ann Lim, Assistant Vice President and Greenwich HR Head.
Also joining them were Rizza Masupil, Greenwich Operations Director of Greenwich; Felmarie Jolo, Chowking Operations Director; Shelwin Hizon, Jollibee Operations Director; Lorlyn Cordero, Burger King Area Manager.
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About Jollibee Group
Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 18 brands with over 6,500 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. JFC also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.
The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. Recently, the Jollibee Group has signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company that will own and operate Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters in the Philippines.
The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines’ most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia’s Fab 50 Companies and among the World’s Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction.
To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com
