Demand and opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) show no signs of waning as more countries expressed their intention to hire more Pinoy workers despite the current financial crisis being experienced worldwide.
South Australia, a part of Australia’s six states and two territories wish to hire OFWs as a way to address their continuing problem of labor shortage. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) informed that an agreement between South Australia and the Philippines regarding the recruitment of OFWS is currently being prepared.
According to the secretary of DOLE, Marianito Roque, the agreement with South Australia would be patterned to the agreement with the Canadian province of Manitoba. Roque also assures that the undertaking would ensure the protection and and skills upgrading of OFWs.
The Labor Secretary said, "Thus the recruitment of OFWs to South Australia would be orderly, ethical and in line with the laws and policies of the Philippines and of Australia."
To create a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the recruitment of skilled OFWs to South Australia, DOLE technical team imet their counterparts in South Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Consulations between the two parties are ongoing
The Labor Chief said that the DOLE team met their counterpart in SA to formulate the MOU and modify and adjust the provisions and requirements of the Philippines and South Australia.
Based on a repot from the DOLE team, Kevin Folley, South Australia’s Deputy Premier is expected to come to the country early next yea for the MOU signing. Roque said that its is possible that the Australian team would would be accompanied with employers and officials from relevant agencies in Australia.
Meanwhile, United Kingdom (UK) is also a viable destination for OFWs as Peter Beckingham, British Ambassador to the Philippines said that even with the financial crisis, Filipinos are very welcome in their country.
According to Beckingham, OFWs because of their excellent work ethics continue to make “valuable contribution" to the UK. The list of occupations that are needed in UK includes engineers, doctors, nurses and teachers.
Another possible destination for OFWs is Canada which will continue its current program of inviting immigrants to address their labor shortages. The Immigration Minister of Canada, Jason Kenney, said, "Obviously, the economic crisis worries us a great deal... but we believe it would be counterproductive to cut off a labor supply from those sectors of the economy that are still growing by reducing immigration levels."
Prospective immigrants, he said, could include "nurses from the Philippines, heavy equipment operators from Ukraine and consumer software designers from India."
