MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has created a technical working group (TWG) tasked to formulate an agreement for possible job opportunities to Russia.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they started looking into the labor market regulations and policies in the European nation in preparation for the deployment of Filipino workers.
“Negotiations with Russian Federation are ongoing and Russia is one of our alternative markets for our Filipino workers who still wish to be deployed overseas,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
“There is a demand for construction and household service workers in Russia,” Bello added.
The group was tasked to establish a program of activities for series of policy consultation between Manila and Moscow. It will also lead the orientation of Russian employers and recruitment agencies about Philippine laws governing the deployment of OFWs.
It was also assigned to meet with the DOLE and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) counterparts in Russia to further discuss policies for the protection and welfare of Filipino workers.
Likewise, they will provide inputs and recommendations relative to the deployment of workers in Russia and bilateral labor agreement (BLA) negotiations for consideration of the DOLE BLA Steering Committee.
The TWG is headed by Undersecretary for Legal and International Affairs Claro Arellano and supported by POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia as vice-chairperson.
Its members include Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Hans Leo Cacdac, and the heads of the DOLE’s International Labor Affairs Bureau officer-in-charge Alice Visperas and Legal Service director Philip Paredes. (PNA)
