Monday, October 06, 2008 Gov't eyes Pinoy employment in Australia
THE Philippines is sending a team of labor officials in Australia to start the negotiation for the possible deployment of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) and its attached agency -- Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) -- are now finalizing all the details for the Australia mission trip.
"In two months time we will send a team to Australia to negotiate for the deployment of our Filipino workers," Roque said.
According to the labor chief, Australia needs 30,000 skilled workers and they are looking at the Philippines to supply this demand.
He said initially, the Filipinos needed are those engaged in construction works, health sector such as nurses as well as services like hotel staff and food service workers and workers for their oil and gas.
"Actually the requirement is all skills but we will know their exact requirements once we have started the talks," Roque said.
Roque said like Canada, which has a demand for 30,000 to 40,000 workers, Australia is in need of workers.
For Canada, Dole through Roque has just signed a new agreement for the deployment of OFWs in Alberta that needs about 10,000 workers for their oil and gas industry, construction in particular the welders and pipe fitters and for the employment of nurses and caregivers.
At present, Dole has four agreements with the four provinces of Canada namely Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta. (MSN/Sunnex)
