DOLE: More decent, high-paying jobs await Pinoys abroad

MANILA, Philippines – More decent and high paying jobs await Filipino workers with higher job orders abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has registered for the first half of the year 637,476 job orders.

“POEA registered 21,268 foreign employers, generating 637,476 job orders. That’s 5.1 percent more jobs which are more respectable and more lucrative compared to the previous year,” Roque stressed.

POEA chief Jennifer Manalili also noted that in the first quarter of the year, close to 400,000 Filipino workers left the country for employment overseas.

“This is preliminary data and still subject to validation but based on our initial figures, a total of 397,626 were deployed abroad from January to March,” Manalili said.

Manalili expressed confidence that total deployment for 2009 would reach, if not exceed, last year’s deployment figure of 1.3 million even with the financial crisis.

To facilitate employment for prospective OFWs, Manalili said the POEA has linked up with Digital Paradise Inc., owner of the Netopia chain of Internet cafes.

With the tie up, Manalili said jobseekers can use the Internet to visit the POEA website and apply for overseas jobs at discounted prices.

“This move is part of the continuing campaign to facilitate access to reliable information on overseas employment and reduce the incidence of illegal recruitment,” Manalili said.

During yesterday’s Migrant Workers’ Day celebration, the POEA also launched a program to control widespread illegal recruitment through text messaging.

“SMS service will now be used not only for job search but also as a tool in preventing illegal recruitment. Job seekers can now inquire with the POEA through text whether a certain agency is licensed or not,” Manalili said.

Meanwhile, South Korea is all set to hire 5,000 more Filipino workers in the coming months.

Roque and his Korean counterpart, Minister Lee Young-hee, signed an agreement last May 30 on the hiring of more Filipino workers who will enjoy similar treatment given to Korean workers, including minimum wage, free accommodation, pension and insurance coverage.  –Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star