By Myris Lee
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) sent off 61 Filipino hotel workers to Israel on Wednesday, June 1, after the government allowed them to work there.
The newly deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were supposed to be sent in 2020, but were held by worldwide lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 400 OFWs are also set to depart Manila soon.
“Nagkaroon tayo ng ugnayan sa Israel, may BLA [bilateral labor agreement] tayo at tayo iyong kauna-unahang foreign workers na binigyan ng opportunity para magpadala ng hotel keepers sa Israel,” POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said in the June 2 Laging Handa briefing.
Aside from hotel housekeeping jobs, the country also has a bilateral agreement with Israel for Filipino caregivers.
Olalia said they have conveyed nearly 2,000 Filipino caregivers and 2,600 OFWs who have already signed their contracts and are presently holding up for their sending dates. There are 35,000 slots made available for those seeking foreign employment.
New Zealand, Australia,Germany, the United Kingdom, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, and other European countries also welcome Filipino skilled workers.
Japan,Taiwan, and Korea are also open for Filipino skilled workers, professional workers, and factory workers.
Meanwhile, Olalia said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello II will fly to Germany to sign a bilateral labor agreement that will open doors for Filipino workers in the country. – ag
