Helpline for OFWs

OFW Helpline 0917-4226800 was launched by Senate President Manny Villar for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are maltreated or in danger and their families who need assistance.

“We want to provide another avenue where OFWs can air their plight, and by which we can prod government departments and agencies into immediate action,” said Villar.

Filipinos still welcome in Malaysia

Filipinos who have been deported from Malaysia are still welcome to enter and work there provided that they will enter the country in a proper and legal way.

The Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmad Rasidi Hazizi said that Malaysia still prefers to hire Filipino workers and also re-hire those who were deported as long as they will enter legally.

New Zealand needs 35 RNs

The Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) in New Zealand is in need of 35 registered nurses for Theatres, ICU, HDU, Orthopedics, Burns, Plastics, Emergency Care and General Surgical Areas.

Qualifications:
Exceptional skills and experience in acute setting
Minimum IELTS score of 7 in each band or OET band
Score of B
Minimum 2 years acute hospital experience
Completed a 4 year ‘pure nursing degree’ (no credited
Unit/s from other course)

Education: BS Nursing

Salary: NZ$ 46,383 – 57,845/annum

Qualified applicants should personally submit a detailed resume, Diploma and transcript of records, board license/certificate, PRC card, 2 dated letters of reference from previous/current manager/supervisor, IELTS certificate and 1 pc 2x2 picture at the Manpower Registry Division, Window M, Ground Floor, Blas Ople Bldg. (formerly POEA Bldg.) Ortigas Ave., corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City between 8 am to 5 pm or the nearest, POEA Regional Extension Unit. Please submit scanned copies of CVs and credentials in compact disc or diskette.

Qualified applicants may also send in their updated CVs to poea_gpb@yahoo.com
Representatives of CMDHB will conduct the interview from 8th – 12th September
2008.

Deadline to submit applications: 24 August 2008.

POEA

Advisory for OFWs bound to Middle East

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) advised Filipino workers bound for the Middle East to remove their tattoos, since it is considered as offensive to Islam.

A report from Manila Standard Today said that a Filipino worker was arrested in Saudi Arabia for having a tattoo on his left arm.

Passport Services for OFWs in POEA

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) need not go to the main office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to obtain a passport. They can take care of their passport needs right at Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) because the DFA satellite office there now gives full-service passport services for OFWs.

This would be very helpful and convenient for OFWs because almost all legal overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) go to the office of the POEA to process their papers.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who applied for a passport at the POEA office have to wait for seven or fourteen working days before their passport is released.

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More OFWs for Australia

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that Australian companies are looking forward in hiring foreign workers, especially Filipinos, due to the skills shortage of the country.

With regards to this, the DFA warns Filipinos to be wary of individuals who are posing as recruiters. They said that Australian companies who want to hire Filipino workers must coordinate with a Philippine recruitment agency accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

Workers who have been hired illegally are prone to abuses, hazards, and risks. They will we deported and also blacklisted to re-entry in Australia when caught.

Foreign workers who will be hired, according to the Australian law, will not pay for their travel and Australian administrative fees in entering Australia. The company is responsible for all the expenses of the workers, the Australian embassy in Manila said.

The Australian government will issue a “Temporary Business Long Stay Visa,” also known as the “Standard Business Sponsorship Subclass 457 Visa” or the “457 Visa,” to companies and this will be granted to foreign workers that will be hired.

The 457 Visa does not give foreign workers permanent residency, this only allows foreigner to work in Australia for a period of six months to four years.
For inquiries and complaint you can email the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) at nsw.457Jntegrity@fmmi.–gov.au.

Seafarer's Upgrading Program (SUP)

The Seafarer's Upgrading Program (SUP) is another scholarship program offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for Filipino seafarers who wants to upgrade their skills and develop the expertise of Filipino seafarers so they can compete with the technological advancements and international maritime standards.

The OWWA aims to provide the seafarer members a job-related training in priority maritime courses identified by the Maritime Training Council.

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20 abused OFWs back home at last

The 20 abused overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates were already home with the help of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Sen. Estrada’s visits in the Middle East is for a film opening, but when he saw how miserable these OFWs are in the crowded shelters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he decided to bring them home with him, using his own money, since all they need is their plane ticket.

“Most of them were runaways who were maltreated, physically abused, refused food, who were overworked with some even forced into prostitution … These 20 were ready to go, their papers were ready and all they needed were plane tickets,” said Estrada.

He said that there are around hundred more OFWs in the shelters in the UAE. He assures that he’ll repatriate 10 more OFWs soon and will also visit and check the situation of OFWs’ in Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

According to Cresente Relacion of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Migrant Workers Affairs office there was an adequate amount of money to repatriate OFWs but processing their papers and plane tickets took time.

“It just so happened the senator was there, but we have enough funds to assist [OFWs],” he added.

Advisory for Filipinos who want to watch the 2008 Olympics

Filipinos traveling to China for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August and September are advised to apply and acquire appropriate entry visas from the Chinese Embassy or consulate.

Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Cataumber Brady reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a circular advising that the Chinese Government has issued laws and regulations requiring visa applicants to present necessary documents, including an invitation letter, family relationship certificate, roundtrip air tickets, and hotel reservation in China.

Foreigners are advised to procure their visas before leaving for China from their countries of origin or long-term residence.

Filipinos traveling to China for the Olympics are advised to observe this advisory to avoid unnecessary delay and expense.

Source:
DFA

Are you traveling to Romania?

Filipinos traveling to Romania are advised to procure appropriate visas from the Romanian Embassy in Manila.

For tourism purposes, Filipinos need to apply for short-stay (tourist) visa. The Romanian Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reforms emphasizes that holders of short-stay visas cannot seek employment in Romania. Short stay visa is based on a special procedure, via invitation, which does not permit subsequent prolongation of the right to stay in Romania.

Although Romania is a member of the European Union (EU), it is not a party to the Schengen Visa Agreement.

Published in DFA on June 23, 2008

20K jobs in Guam for OFWs

Victor Fernandez, president of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) had a visit and Guam and he said that the country will open about 20,000 jobs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that will scheduled to start next year (2009).

He said that the construction of various facilities and housing for United States military personnel will last up to four years. He added that he had met with the Guam’s department of labor officials, labor and trade unions, placement offices and local Filipino associations.

“We were also briefed on the hiring policies, the documentary requirements and health concerns by officials from the island's labor department,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez also added that the labor officials of Guam will monitor if the foreign and local contractors who will take part in the contraction of the billion-dollar project will comply.

“The opening of new job opportunities in the island for Filipino workers came following the announcement of the impending relocation of thousands of US military personnel and facilities from Okinawa, Japan to Guam,” he said.