Jollibee Group says senior hiring program has employed over 1,000 since 2019

Jollibee Group's Inclusive Employment Program has provided jobs to more than 1,000 senior citizens and persons with disabilities since it began in 2019, according to a feature published by Mindanao Times.

The program is run through partnerships with local government units. It places qualified applicants in customer relations and other front-of-house roles at participating restaurants under the group's brands. In 2025 alone, 285 senior citizens joined the program, according to the report, which links the initiative to the company's Joy for Tomorrow sustainability agenda.

One of them is Rosalinda Caparanga, 66, who clears tables and keeps the dining area tidy at a Chowking branch. She sold goods from home before the pandemic and later spent her days taking her grandson to and from school. She learned about the senior job openings while renewing her senior citizen ID at Manila City Hall, then applied after getting details from the Public Employment Service Office (PESO).

Caparanga said earning her own income helps her pay her bills and stay independent. "I also don't want to depend on my children, which is why I want to work," she said. Her family was initially worried about her age, but she said the job gives her responsibilities and keeps her physically active. She had no food-service experience and learned by watching her coworkers. She now refers other seniors to City Hall and PESO.

At Greenwich, 70-year-old Manuel Moran, a retired overseas Filipino worker who worked in accounting, operations and logistics abroad, took on food service for the first time. He had originally hoped to become a tourist guide through a senior citizens' initiative in Manila but was offered a restaurant role instead. He said he doubted at first whether he could handle the work.

"I don't want to be a liability; I want to be an asset and make a real contribution," Moran said. He credited his younger colleagues for their respect and support, and said many seniors still have skills and experience to share. For many, he added, working is not only about money but also about having something meaningful to do.