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Spain and Canada will give another employment opportunity for Filipino workers. Approximately 500,000 jobs in the energy and medical industries of both countries await for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“The Spanish government has informed us that they will need about 100,000 Filipino workers over the next two years,” the President said in a speech at the 27th National Conference of Employers at the Manila Hotel.
“I also hope to be able to get Spain's tourism investors to the Philippines to give jobs in tourism which is highly labor and skills intensive,” she said.
While on the other hand, in anticipation of a massive oil exploration and refinery project, the President said that the Canadian government had also stated its intention to increase the number of employment slots for Filipino workers.
“Three provinces in Canada, namely, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, are seeking labor agreements with us. If their plan to exploit their newly discovered oil field, which is touted to be as large as the Saudi oil reserve, pushes through, that would translate to an estimated 400,000 jobs for Filipino workers. Canada wants Filipino labor because our workers are the greatest in the world,” she said.
Her Excellency described OFWs as “the backbone of the new global work force” and “the country’s greatest export.” The OFWs became a great support for the Philippine economy, in fact they bring in more than $10 billion, roughly 12 percent of the gross domestic product, into the country.
The investment and labor opportunities offered by Spain will be part of the discussion when President Arroyo flies there upon the invitation of King Juan Carlos after her visit in Italy.
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