How to become more competitive: The Tulay Microsoft Program

The Tulay or Bridge Education Program aims to train overseas Filipino worker with the use of the internet. This would help both of them to access the technology that would serve as bridge to communicate with each other.

The Tulay Microsoft Project was launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and was made possible through the partnership of Microsoft Philippines. This program is under the Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP).

The project primarily aims to provide technology and skills for underserved individuals. Through the Tulay Microsoft Project, OFWs and their families will learn to use basic functionalities of computer such as MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel as well as the internet and e-mail use at the Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLC).

To view the complete article please click this link:
How to become more competitive: The Tulay Microsoft Program

List of Recruitment Agencies Authorized to Recruit for Canada

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has released the list of licensed recruitment agencies that are authorized to recruit and deploy Filipino workers bound for Canada.

The POEA said that some skilled and professional overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are needed in the provinces of Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. And they advised that the Canadian law requires no recruitment and placement fee for workers applying for jobs in these provinces.

The POEA’s government placement facility has no job offer for Canada. Applicants are advised to apply only at the DOLE-POEA licensed recruitment agencies listed below (partial list) to avoid illegal recruiters. These are the only licensed agencies that have approved job orders and are permitted by the POEA to recruit OFWs for Canada.

21st Century Manpower
APEX- Agency for Pinoy Excellence
Archangel Global Solutions, Inc
Augustin International Center, Inc
Best One International Services & Consultancy, Inc
Bison Management Corporation
BM Skyway General Services & Trading
CATAMA Placement Agency, Inc
Centaur International Manpower
EDI-Staffbuilders International, Inc
Excel Green Kard International, Inc
FIL-HR Manpower Development Services Specialist Corp.
Finest Asia Resources, Inc

For complete list please click this link:
http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=831

POEA eases OFW exit procedure at airports

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is dropping the validation of documents of OFWs leaving through its labor assistance counters (LAC) at international airports in compliance
with the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to further streamline processes in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Administrator Rosalinda Dimaplis-Baldoz said starting March 24, 2008, departing OFWs shall present the exit clearance or overseas employment certificate issued by the POEA directly
to the airline counters, terminal fee counters, and the Bureau of Immigration counters.

The POEA labor assistance counter shall remain open 24/7, but its services shall be limited to assisting OFWs with documentation problems, issuing overseas employment certificates (OEC) to OFWs leaving the country within 24 hours, and dissemination of information and education materials to OFWs and families.

The implementation of the new procedure coincides with the start of the peak season when thousands of OFWs are expected to return to their job sites after attending the graduation of their family members, and observing Holy Week in the country.

The POEA has labor assistance counters at NAIA 1, NAIA 2, Mactan International Airport, Davao International Airport, and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport.

POEA

Agency Suspended for Excessive Collection of Placement Fees

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has suspended the license of JFG Career Agency as well as its counter part in Canada, September Star, Inc, that were found collecting placement fees from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are bound for jobs in Canada.

The owner of four branches of A&W restaurants in Canada, Mr. Tyson J. Kefebre, filed the complaint when one of the 16 OFWs he hired told him that each of them paid some US$1,500.00 to JFG Career Agency and were compelled to sign promissory notes that they would pay additional US$4,500.00 to September Star in scheduled installments.

Another OFW, according to Mr. Kefebre, also complained JFG Career Agency for asking of US$2,000.00 for the release of her travel documents. Aside from that, the Canadian Agency also requires the workers to sign with another employment contract which is totally different from the contract approved by the Canadian government and that gives burden to the OFWs.

The POEA Administrator, Rosalinda Baldoz, said that police authorities in Alberta filed cases of extortion and violation of Fair Trading Act against JFG Career Agency.

She also said that JFG Career Agency also collects very high placement fees from OFW recruited directly from United Arab Emirates.

The Canadian government strictly prohibits the collection of recruitment fees from employees. Anyone caught collecting any amount of money from applicants will be punished and will have a minimum fine of $100,000.00 or imprisonment or both.

Source:
POEA

Don’t Miss the 2nd Philippine Nursing Conference and Expo!!!

Good news for all nursing students, nursing graduates, and licensed nurses! The biggest event for nurses is now on it second run!

Be part of the 2nd Philippine Nursing Opportunities Conference and Expo 2008 to be held on April 4-6, 2008 (Friday to Sunday) from 10am onwards at SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall.

The 2nd Philippine Nursing Conference and Expo (PNOCE 2008) aims to gather all companies and organizations involved in the nursing industry. Through the initiative of Elite Consultancy Services and in partnership with SM Megatrade Hall, this conference and expo will become the biggest and most exciting one for all nurses.

For more details of the event please click this link:
http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=854

WorkAbroad Book: Free Copies to Be Given Away!!!

WorkAbroad.ph, the leading overseas jobs board in the country is giving away free copies of Work Abroad! Filipino’s Guide to Working and Succeeding Overseas. The comprehensive guidebook provides all essential information an OFW needs. Power-packed with essential information about working overseas, the book is an indispensable tool of overseas life.

Mechanics:

Visit any of the following book stores (National Bookstore, Powerbooks and Fully Booked)

Look for the book: Work Abroad: (Filipino’s Guide to Working and Succeeding Overseas)

Take a picture of you holding the WorkAbroad Book inside the bookstore and send it to email@workabroad.ph with your full name, address, contact numbers and the name of the bookstore and branch where they saw it.

The first forty (40) to send in their pictures will receive a free copy of the WorkAbroad Book!!!

What are you waiting for? Go to the bookstore nearest you now and send your entries!!!

POEA will lift deployment ban of OFWs in Jordan soon

Recruitment and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was ban in Jordan in January 21, 2008 when some OFWs who absconded from their Jordanian employers due to maltreatment and not paying their salaries.

Some reports said that the Jordanian labor officials will come to the Philippines to arrange an agreement with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to totally lift the ban on the deployment of OFWs in Jordan.

During an interview with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Marianito Roque he states that he and Jordanian Labor Secretary Bassem al Salem have agreed to revise the procedures of the 1988 bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labor Matters to reflect the current conditions.

Roque also said that even OFWs are totally ban in working in Jordan there are still OFWs working there without proper documentation since the Jordanian government issues work permits to Filipinos even they are only holding tourist visas.

Warning against recruiter for "jobs" in Spain

The POEA warns applicants against accepting offers from a certain Mrs. Garcia Jose who is illegally recruiting Filipino workers for Spain through e-mail. Mrs. Garcia promises employment upon arrival in Spain but the supposed job orders were found to be non-existent and the workers would leave the country using tourist visa.

advisory from the POEA

No Job Placement in Israel

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued an advisory for Filipinos seeking jobs in Israel. The advisory states that there are scrupulous individuals recruiting workers for hotel works in Israel.

According to DFA, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv reported that the State of Israel is not in need of hotel staffs and that there are no existing jobs for them.

“The post warns the public on false information circulating regarding a job order processed in the Embassy for this category”, a statement of the DFA in a press report.

The Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Israel asked jobseekers to report with them the recruitment of these non-existing jobs. And should verify the status of the recruitment agency with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) whether the job orders is genuine and not bogus to avoid dealing with illegal recruiters.

Anyone who has offer in a hotel job in Israel should immediately report to the Philippine Embassy or Israel's Ministry Of Labor.

PIA

Repatriation for OFWs through legal way

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that overseas Filipino workers stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia should undergo through the legal process of their repatriation to the Philippines.

The DFA also said that they will not accept the request of OFWs to the Philippine Consulate to use fictitious documents just for their fast repatriation.

DFA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael Seguis said that they (OFWs) should go the Consulate for legal processing of their repatriation and that the DFA will not support the short way of processing.

Stranded OFWs had set up a camp outside the Philippine Consulate for their immediate deportation in the Philippines. Reports said that there are 74 stranded OFWs in Saudi and among them, only 18 OFWs agreed to undergo the legal process of deportation.

Some OFWs according to Seguis are stiff to their request that the Consulate should issue them fictitious documents but the Consulate don’t agree and said that it can’t be done.

The Philippine Consulate also reported that there are fixers who acts as agents of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah and they claim that they can help the run-away OFWs be repatriated. These agents are collecting fees ranging from SR500 to SR2,500 which is about P1,000 to P5,000 in exchange for the immediate repatriation of overstaying and run-away OFWs.

According to the Vice President and Presidential Adviser on OFWs Noli de Castro, the fixers are also spreading rumors that the Saudi Arabian government is offering amnesty because of the Hajj season.

“According to the Consulate, there is no way they are connected to any of these individuals or fixers because all transactions are conducted inside its premises by its personnel who have Consulate IDs and have resident permits issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” de Castro added.

De Castro also said that the Philippine Consulate offers assistance to the repatriation of OFWs in accordance with the existing Saudi legal procedures for the issuance of exit visa of sponsored expatriates and that the Consulate can resolve their cases through the regular channels.

OFWs who are willing to undergo through the legal process shall present themselves, with representation of the Consulate, to Saudi authorities for investigation and processing.

March 8 “No Remittance Day”

The Migrante International declares the International Women’s Day, as “No Remittance Day” to express their discontentment with the Arroyo administration.

Members of Migrante International would request overseas Filipino workers not to send money to their relatives in the Philippines on March 8.

According to Migrante, it is their way of protest against the administration of Gloria which is now drowning in allegations or corruption and anomalies.

Meanwhile, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UniFil), and OFW group in Hong Kong started the “no remittance protest" on Sunday and stated that they will conduct the protest once a month until Arroyo is ousted.

Cebu-Macao affordable flights for OFWs

The cheap flight to Cebu-Macao is offered by Cebu Pacific for overseas Filipino workers in Macao and will start on April 5. The initial flight is available twice a week during Tuesday and Saturday. And beginning May 8, the flight schedule will become four-times a week during Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

A one-way fare between Macao and Cebu starts from Php1,499 or USD37.48 exclusive of taxes and surcharges.

Lance Gokongwei, President of Cebu Pacific said that the offer aims to provide Filipino overseas workers in Macao a direct service to Cebu that will easily link them to the islands in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He also added that ther very low fares will allow them to come home more often.

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