Shipbuilder Hanjin Philippines to hire at least 10,000 workers

Shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction-Philippines Inc. (HHIC) is set to hire at least 10,000 additional workers this year for its shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

 

“Once the targets for ship orders are reached this year, Hanjin could add over ten thousand workers,” HHIC president Jin Kyu Ahn said in a statement posted Tuesday on the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority website. 

 

“[This] would clearly benefit the Philippine economy, and bring opportunities to Filipino entrepreneurs and skilled workers, and much needed revenue to the Philippine government,” the Hanjin official noted.

 

Residents in the surrounding area of the free port zone, including the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, and Olongapo City will benefit from the expansion, he added.

 

Currently, the company has about 20,000 local employees.

 

“Since the start of the commercial operation of Hanjin's shipyard in 2008, it has already generated P125 billion worth of exports, making it the consistent top exporter in the country's premier free port,” the statement read.

 

Hanjin recently delivered “state-of-the-art commercial vessels,” including M/T Brightway, a 160,000- DWT (deadweight ton) crude oil tanker ordered by the Liberian-registered Modmal Shipping Limited, and M/V FMG Matilda, a 205,000-DWT bulk carrier owned by Belgium-based Bocimar Hong Kong Ltd.

 

According to the Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippines ranks as the world’s fourth largest shipbuilding country, the statement claimed. —RRD/VS, GMA News