The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) informed that an estimated 10,000 job opportunities await overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Alberta, a province in Canada.

The recent signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Philippine government and the province of Alberta created a partnership and cooperation in the recruitment and deployment of OFWs.

The signing was held at the Makati Shangrila Hotel and Labor Secretary, Marianito Roque represented the Philippines while Hector Goudreau, Alberta’s Minister of Employment and Immigration represented the Canadian province. Alberta hopes to solve the skills shortage of their province by hiring skilled and professional OFWs. Alberta mostly needs people for its oil and gas industry and infrastructure projects.

Roque said, “Initially 10,000 Filipinos are need immediately for this recruitment program, but Alberta officials said they have a shortage of 30,000 workers for their oil and gas industry."

The labor secretary aims to deploy about 30,000 to 40,000 OFWs to Alberta, Canada, and other Canadian provinces (Manitoba, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan) every year.

Roque also shared information on the salary that hired OFWs for Alberta would get:

highly skilled welders: 6,000 Canadian dollars (USD5,700) and pipe fitters:  3,800 Canadian dollars (USD 3,600). As comparison, Roque said that welders and pipe fitters in Saudi Arabia only received USD 300 to USD 500.

The agreement also includes provision for trainings of Filipinos that will be hired in Canada.

Roque said. “They are willing to invest in the Philippines for the continued training for the availability of the Filipino workers to upgrade their skills. We have created a joint working committee that will review the IRR and in the next three months we hope to start the training."

Alberta also needs to hire food attendants, food processors, butchers, caregivers and nurses.

The DOLE reminds applicants that employers and recruitment agencies are not allowed to collect any placement fees. All recruitment costs of OFWs bound for Alberta, Canada should be covered by the employer.