PDOS at POEA transferred to OWWA

The Department of Labor and Employment and the POEA-OWWA Joint Circular No. 01, Series of 2011 amending the POEA-OWWA Joint Circular No.4, Series of 2002 has transferred the management and conduct of Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for government-placed and name-hired workers has been transferred to the office of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Source:

POEA

Are OFWs now safe in Iraq?

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Enrique Manalo told the Iraq officials that the Philippines is open to send overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country provided that it is now safe for OFWs to work there again.

Thus, the Philippine government has sent a team to check the status in Iraq and see if the situation there improves and OFWs will be in safe hand working in the oil-rich but war-ravaged country.

“Our vast pool of professionals and skilled workers in the engineering, architecture, construction, energy, transportation, and communications sectors can help in rehabilitating the country’s basic facilities and services,” Manalo said.

According to Esteban Conejos, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, the periodic assessment of the country’s deployment bans to Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Jordan would be done in March.

Only then could the department decide on whether or not to lift the restrictions.

Mark Joseph Ubalde
GMANews.TV
01/23/2009

Doha new destination for OFWs

Migrante-Qatar coordinator Jhon de Jesus said that Doha will be the new destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are affected by the global economic crackdown.

He said that there are still job opportunities for Filipinos in Doha. Base on his observation, due to the continuous development and booming of several industries, Qatar will be the alternative destination for laid off OFWs in Dubai since.

“Qatar is still at its peak of development while opportunities in Dubai have already subsided because many infrastructure projects have already been completed that it just needs maintenance workers,” de Jesus said.

Meanwhile, the Labor Secretary advised retrenched OFWs in Dubai to submit their résumé to the labor attaché for possible transfer to Qatar, where there are 120,124 visa allocations for Filipino workers this year.

He also added that they will provide training, if need by OFWs, for them to transfer to other countries. If they already want to stay in the Philippines for good, the Department of Labor and Employment will provide them capital for livelihood activities.

Source: The PENINSULA/ By CHRIS V PANGANIBAN
1/25/2009

Help Assistance Center for Jobless OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has opened the National Reintegration Center and all regional offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to retrenched overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are seeking for government livelihood assistance and job placement programs.

The help center is not only for OFWs but also for local workers. The program may either help them in setting up livelihood or income-generating projects or seeking employment, either locally or overseas, where they may be fitted.

Both displaced OFWs and local workers who want to open a business, Dole Secretary Marianito Roque said they would be initially granted an assistance package consisting of entrepreneurship counseling, training, and access to equipment.

Roque also added that the assistance was free of any charge.

Filipinos who want local employment can seek assistance from the Bureau of Local Employment or at the nearest DOLE office. For program details, workers may contact the NRCO at Tel. Nos. 528-0848 and the DOLE at 527-8000.

Overseas Job in Canada for OFWs soon!

More overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are expected to arrive in the Canadian Province of Alberta due to the agreement signed between the two countries.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Employment and Immigration (E & I) will work together on the ethical recruitment, selection, and protection and skills development of OFWs who will be working in the Province of Alberta.

The Secretary of Labor Marianito Roque mentioned that DOLE and E & I will focus in the following plans:

Expedite the approval of selected OFWs for employment opportunities in Alberta;
Ensure that Alberta's occupational standards are met through training and credential recognition activities;
Provide programs for the well being and protection of OFWs in coordination with employers;
Promote sound and equitable recruitment and employment practices and;
Establish other areas for collaboration such as HRD programs.

Read more…

Livelihood and Job Fair on Independence Day

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will hold a job fair on June 12, 2008 dubbed as Independence Day Mega Jobs and Livelihood Fair from June 10-12 in front of Quirino Grand Stand, Rizal Park Manila, 8am to 4pm.

There are approximately 15,000 local and overseas jobs available for participants. Jobseekers can also find jobs at the Philjobnet on-line employment, obtain their NBI clearance, birth certificate, TIN and SSS. The DoLE will also set up their Assistant Clinic.

The event will also offer skills demo, competency assessment and youth profiling and product sale of DoLE livelihood program beneficiaries.

Deployment ban in Jordan not yet lifted

Contrary to my previous post, Deployment Freeze of DH in Jordan Lifted, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) denied reports that the deployment ban in Jordan has been lifted.

Due to some reports of abuse of Filipino workers DoLE freeze deploying of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Jordan. The government agency has also denied that the two countries, Philippines and Jordan has signed a memorandum that lifts the ban.

Wage hike for DHs in Hong Kong

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) announced that the monthly salary of domestic helpers (DHs) in Hong Kong will increase in June.

Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said that the Hong Kong officials will determine the amount of wage hike of foreign maids, including Filipina DH when the statistical data on consumer price index, gross domestic product and other economic indicators was release at the end of the month.

Permanent Secretary for Labor and Welfare Matthew Cheung of the Government of the Hong Kong said to Roque that he will inform the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong about the wage increase before the formal announcement by government officials.

Currently, foreign DHs earn HK$3,480 a month.

Canada Desk for OFWs’ Deployment to Canada

The Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion has issued Administrative Order No. 53, series of 2008. The Administrative Order will provide a desk for OFWs bond to Canada. The desk will be set up at the Office of the DoLE Secretary in Intramuros, Manila.

The Canadian Desk will cater queries and other concerns relating to the deployment of OFWs to Canada. The Director of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Salome Mendoza will head the desk.

According to Secretary Brion, the Canadian Desk will coordinates with the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba in matters related to the deployment of OFWs in these provinces. However, the POEA, still, will continue to handle the actual deployment activities. The Desk will also cater concerns from workers who are seeking for jobs in Canada.

Canada, particularly the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba highly needed Filipino workers. Alberta is currently booming in its oil and gas industry and might hires some 400,000 workers in the next two years. On the other hand, hospitality and construction workers are needed in British Columbia, since it will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. The province will need some 30,000 contract and permanent migrant workers.

Canada is also in need of workers in the healthcare and education sectors. For more details, the DOLE-POEA Desk can be reached through its hotline number (02) 523-3633 or e-mail address dolecanada@yahoo.com.

Source:
DoLE