Filipino tourists cannot work in Romania

Beware of recruiters who encourage applicants for overseas jobs to enter Romania as tourists with the premise that a work permit will be issued when the worker arrive in the country. Working in Romania using tourist visa (short stay visa) is not possible because it is issued only through invitation and cannot be used for a longer stay. Filipino workers who wish to legally stay and work in Romania should acquire the appropriate visa.

The employer needs to file with the Romanian Immigration Office a labor permit for permanent workers (long stay visa for labor purposes) on behalf of the foreign worker justifying the necessity of hiring the selected worker.

Job scams in the internet

OFWs beware! The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration received reports of Filipino workers victimized by the following employment scams in the internet:

Reserve Petroleum Nederland BV (www.reservpetroleum-ol.com)
Copied the website of a legitimate maritime contracting company, and posts fake offers for jobs in dredging and marine projects in Europe
Asks applicants to pay fees for visa or work/residence permit, additional fees to cover registration of documents
Targets OFWs in the Middle East

Western Nursing & Day Care Services Ltd. (wns.ltd.tripod.com/index.html)
Offers caregiving jobs in Canada
Applicants to pay visa fee and medical insurance
Uses free e‐mail and website hosting services

First Global Manpower (firstglobal.manpowerrecruitment@yahoo.fr)
Offers jobs as fish packers, garden workers and office cleaners in Ecuador, USA,
Canada and Turkey
Lists office address in Ivory Coast
Uses e-mail in recruitment (The POEA Administrator actually received such e-mail)
Charges service fees for processing of visa

Israel seeks stiffer penalty against assault of elderly

Israel has raised the punishment for assault of the elderly or those 65 years old and above, to five years imprisonment. Knesset, the Israel parliament will monitor the impact of the law and if proved ineffective, a more severe penalty will be introduced.

Prior to the passage of the bill, two cases of maltreatment of the elderly involving Filipino caregivers were reported in the Israeli media.

Warning for Nurses bound to NZ

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) advised nurses bound for New Zealand about agencies or individual recruiters who are collecting excessive fees. There are reports that has reached the office of DoLE that nurses who are applying for a job in New Zealand were required to pay P500,000 and P700,000.

Secretary Arturo Brion of DoLe advice nurses who have job offers in New Zealand to report these recruiters to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) so they can file appropriate charges.

Upon arrival in New Zealand, they will stay in rest homes for which they were automatically billed 15 percent of their monthly salary.

The DoLE has proposed to the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) of New Zealand that they will recruit Filipino nurses with the aid of the POEA. Through this process, applicants can avoid dealing with middle men or recruiters, since the CMDHB will reimburse all the expenses of the nurses’ transportation costs. Thus, there mobilization would only cost some P8,000 each.

The proposal also states that the applicants must register with the POEA and must undergo a screening test. Applicants who will pass the process will be deployed to CMDHB hospitals in New Zealand.

Brion added that the POEA will discuss the repatriation coverage and other benefits of the nurses.

“This will not only protect the nurses from unscrupulous recruiters but also ensure their employment and welfare in New Zealand,” Brion said.

Prohibited Items When Entering Singapore

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned Filipinos who are planning to enter Singapore to avoid bringing porno magazines, gun-shaped lighters, and chewing tobacco.

The advisory was issued after a report from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore that a Filipino was apprehended due to possession of a knuckle duster. This is punishable by imprisonment and caning under the Arms Offences Act of Singapore.

The following items are prohibited for all who wants to enter the Lion City:

• firearms or firearms parts, including magazines
• live bullets, including blanks, of small or large caliber for revolver, pistol, or rifle
  air pistol or air rifle or parts
• spear guns or cross bows
• explosive blasting caps, dynamite, detonators, detonating cords
• fireworks
• spent or empty ammunition cartridges, including bullets rendered "safe’"
• signal flares
• tear-gas spray, pepper spray
• walking stick with dagger
• industrial acid and other corrosive substances
• flick or fan knives, gravity knives
• whips made from bicycle or motorcycle chains
• nunchaku, knuckle dusters, ninja stars, throwing knives

Read more of Prohibited Items When Entering Singapore

Avoid helping troubled OFWs; Saudi Ambassador

The Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor wrote to Filipino community organizations in Saudi Arabia asking the OFWs to stop their fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who escape from their Arabian employer.

The letter states that the Philippine Embassy understood that Filipinos cannot refuse their kababayan asking for help but they (OFWs) must follow and respect the local laws and regulations being enforced by the Saudi authorities. The offence is considered serious and is punishable of imprisonment, lashes and excessive fines if one is found guilty.

“It includes the responsibility of not giving refuge to a worker who absconded from his employer,” he said.

Ambassador to Saudi tells OFWs not to help troubled Pinoys

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 full article please click:
How to become more competitive: The Tulay Microsoft Program

Job hunting and shopping: Mall-based Jobs Kiosk

People can now also find jobs at mall through the recently launched and first ever information machine in the country that contains the in-demand jobs, other job related information and services for jobseekers locally and overseas.The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has launched the greater modular access (GMA) jobs center or kiosk in Robinson’s Place Manila.

The kiosk has a touch screen web-enabled machine that would display information on employment opportunities and services for both local and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The Secretary of DoLE Marianito D. Roque said that they will set up more Kiosks in other malls and public places such as local government offices and schools where there are lot of people passing. Roque also said that GMA Kiosk will soon be available in other malls and public places to get closer to people seeking employment. The kiosk is connected with the Phil-Jobnet and it contains information on local and overseas job vacancies, lists of licensed local and overseas recruitment agencies, job orders accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), job fair schedules, workers certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and it would also serve as guide for jobseekers on how to avail for the benefits offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The kiosk will also caters returning OFWs and their families who wants to inquire for the information on available reintegration services.

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 to further streamline processes in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

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.

POEA