More than a Thousand Jobs Waiting For Filipinos in UAE

Friday, November 14, 2008

A pilot project that was recently launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Labor Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to provide 1,500 jobs for Filipino workers in UAE. Job vacancies for OFWs in UAE will be in the health care, hospitality and construction industries. Officials said that this project will benefit 3,000 workers from India and the Philippines. The project will also track activities of the workers from the hiring process to reintegration. According to the UAE government, they will first try to implement the project for temporary contractual employment. If the project yields positive results, it will be institutionalized.

The project will track activities of the workers from the hiring process to reintegration. The four cycles of employment are recruitment, residency, preparation for reintegration and reintegration. Cycle two and three will be handled by the UAE.

Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque, "This is an advantage to both sending countries [like the Philippines and India] as well as destination countries like the UAE." Roque added that the agreement with UAE shows the commitment of the Philippines to expand "safer migration channels.

Meanwhile, the Labor Minister of UAE, Saqr Gobash Saeed Ghobash said the project would ensure welfare of the workers. Mr. Ghobash said, "Our government wants to make sure that the workers we are getting know what they are getting into and we want to help them."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was present during the program launch of the pilot project and its members praised the move of UAE to participate in something that would promote "safe migration.”

Christopher Lom, IOM Asia-Pacific spokesperson said, "We want to encourage more regional participation. Regional agreements [like this one of India, Philippines and UAE] are easily replicable."

The mechanisms of the pilot project and the criteria for the selection of workers are yet to be finalized.

Source: http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=1014

Outbound OFWs Advised to Secure Their Exit Clearances Early

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) set to go on a vacation to the Philippines this December are advised by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to secure their exit clearances early. They can do this by going to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their respective host countries before their flight back to the Philippines.

By taking care of their exit clearances even before arriving to the Philippines, they don’t need to go the POEA office in Ortigas to get clearances when it is time for them to return to their host county. It will also prevent long lines and crowds at the POEA so the OFWs and the government agency are spared of the holiday hassle.

According to Jennifer Jardin-Manalili, POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili long lines at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center has long been a common sight at the POEA office after the holiday season.
OFWs that are going back to their provinces may get their exit clearance in POEA offices located in Clark Field in Pampanga and the cities of Baguio, Tuguegarao, San Fernando in La Union, Calamba, Legazpi, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Davao.

Manalili also said OFWs could use the overseas employment certificate courier system available at their website (http://www.poea.gov.ph).

All POEA offices will remain open on December 22, 23, 24, 26, and 29; and January 9, 2009, which are considered as peak days.

Source: http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item.php?articleid=1015

Social Networking Sites for OFWs?

Friday, October 24, 2008

OFWs to be taught how to use Friendster, Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—Friendster and Facebook are not only for the young looking for new friends.

Filipino workers abroad now have the chance to learn how to use these popular social networking tools to communicate with their friends and loved ones back home, according to Blas F. Ople Policy Center president Susan Ople.

Ople said that with the recent expansion of Tulay (Bridge), a special training program on technology implemented by the center in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Microsoft Philippines, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) would be introduced to blogging and social utility tools in cyberspace.

“One of the main problems encountered by OFWs is the lack of communication between them and their families,” OWWA official Albert Valenciano said.

Valenciano pointed out that most of the four million Filipino workers overseas often experienced homesickness.

“Since the young members of their families are usually into Friendster and Facebook, it would be very useful for them to learn about these tools so the OFWs could connect with their loved ones better,” Ople said.

Microsoft Philippines last week presented to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center P25 million in cash and P1.3 million worth of software for its expanded Tulay program.

The program expansion would enable the construction of 10 more Community Technology Learning Centers (CTLCs) in the Philippines, wherein OFWs and their families could learn useful computer programs.

Ople said the 10 new Tulay centers would be constructed in the cities of Baguio, Tacloban, Calamba, Koronadal, Tuguegarao, Davao, San Fernando, Butuan and Calapan. A facility in Maguindanao province would also be erected in 2008.

Ople added that a new Tulay center would also be put up in Taipei, while additional computers and software would be given to the CTLC in Hong Kong.

“The waiting list of OFWs wanting to enroll in the Hong Kong Tulay center is until next year,” Ople disclosed, adding that Tulay Hong Kong offers classes six times a week.

Rafael Rollan, managing director of Microsoft Philippines, said that among the issues the program sought to address “is the social displacement encountered by OFWs and their families.”

“We see Tulay as a catalyst for opening up better economic opportunities for OFWs and their beneficiaries,” Rollan said.

The Microsoft director added, “By receiving technology training, participants are able to do more than communicate through email or chat. They become armed with skills that boost their confidence and equip them in exploring alternative employment prospects.”

Ople said that Microsoft, OWWA and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center began the project in 2004 to provide migrant workers and their families with access to both technology and technology training.

“Tulay has trained over 14,000 individuals in the past four years,” Ople said, adding that with the expansion, the program hoped to train 25,000 more OFWs in the next three years.

Tulay presently has CTLCs in Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Locally, Tulay trains OFW beneficiaries in Bicol, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, La Union, Zamboanga, and at the OWWA office in Metro Manila.

http://www.ofw-care.com/2008/09/25/ofws-to-be-taught-how-to-use-friendster-facebook/