ARGENTINA: IN A COUNTRY WHERE ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED A GAME SHOW OFFERING PRIZE OF A JOB IS A TOP RATED PROGRAMME

Record ID: 639533

  • Title: ARGENTINA: IN A COUNTRY WHERE ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE ARE UNEMPLOYED A GAME SHOW OFFERING PRIZE OF A JOB IS A TOP RATED PROGRAMME
  • Date: 15th August 2002
  • Summary: (U7) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FABIO RIDOLFI, CONTESTANT, SAYING, "I've been without work for a year and half and I'm anxious, logically." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROBERTO GOLLUSCIO, CONTESTANT, SAYING "Right now I'm living off of jobs under the table, working as a cabbie a little, whatever it takes to survive."
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVAC7VS77PN1E5N1I7WVGFY2J6L3
  • Story Text: In Argentina, where one in five people is unemployed, a game show in which contestants win a job has become one of the countries top-rated programmes.
    Human Resources is a game show that reveals how far the one-time richest economy in South America has fallen. In the midst of a four-year slump that has battered the peso and pushed half of Argentina's 34 million people into poverty, it offers its two contestants a shot at regular employment.
    "We don't do casting like for television," says Nestor Ibarra, the host of the show. "What happens is businesses offer positions and they provide the job qualifications that they want. That's how we make our selection, we look for the 20 best candidates and the companies choose from these 20 the best qualified for the job."
    As relatives clap, contestants stare into the camera from high metal seats 15 feet apart. Their goal: not to be among the 21.5 percent of Argentineans without a job any more.
    Contestants need to woo home viewers who phone in during the hour-long show to cast votes for the winner. Past winners have won work as tour guides, cooks, waiters, window washers, engineers and most things in between.
    Tension rises as the contestants face the show's big test, a mock day on the job. The stakes are high, the contestants say. "I've been without work for a year and half" said contestant Fabio Ridolfi, "I'm anxious, naturally."
    After finally winning the contest and signing his work contract, contestant Roberto Golluscio was thrilled.
    "When you start working so many things change," he said.
    "Your life changes, you have resources."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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