The Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI), an organization of licensed recruitment firms in the country informed that employment opportunities await Filipino construction workers in Guam.

Thousands of construction workers will be needed for the relocation of the US military base from Okinawa Japan to Guam. This 15-billion dollar project will create employment for 20,000 to 30,000 Filipino construction workers. An estimate of 10,000 US Marines and 8,000 of their dependents will benefit from this project that is expected to start in 2009.

According to Vic Fernandez, PASEI President, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are preferred over workers of other nationalities because OFWs are known for their excellent work ethics and fluency in the English language.

The PASEI president, said, “An overseas worker for the project is expected to earn a minimum net income of USD 750 a month, while other workers and employees in higher positions will receive the same pay as their American counterparts.”

As sixty percent of the transfer to Guam would be shouldered by Japan, more Japanese workers are also expected to be part of the project.

Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, both US colonies are exempted from the nationwide quota on all H visas until 2014 as stated in the legislation passed b the US Senate.

Fenandez said, “All foreign workers including Filipinos who will enter Guam under the H-2b work visa will be issued special "Guam only" work visa. This means they will not be allowed to travel to Hawaii or the US mainland after their work visa expires on December 31, 2014.”