News Release
Department of Labor and Employment
May 8, 2022
Austria, Romania emerging job market for OFWs – DOLE
As Covid-19 situation stabilizes in many parts of the world, more countries are opening their doors to hire migrant workers in various industries, mostly in the health care sector, the labor department reported.
Labor Attaché Atty. Maria Corina Buñag said even in the middle of the pandemic, various European countries within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Milan, Italy still want to hire Filipinos to round out their need for workers.
“Aside from Milan, and Northern Italy, we have an emerging labor market in Austria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Italy is now fast becoming an active destination for our OFWs because the employment landscape remains strong and attractive and there is a huge demand for Filipinos,” Buñag said.
The POLO chief said she looks forward to securing a bilateral agreement with Austria following their interest to hire around 1,000 nurses, nursing assistants, and other workers in the healthcare industry.
“Since there is a dearth of health care workers in the European region, for its initial project, the government of Austria is looking into hiring 1,000 nurses, from healthcare assistants to registered nurses or even higher ranks. Immediately after the election, we will have an ocular assessment of prospective employers. This is a long-term work opportunity for our health care workers, that is why we are working on how we can secure a recognized certification for our nursing graduates,” Buñag added.
She also shared that there is an upward movement of OFW deployment in Romania. “Currently, there are about 1,500 OFWs in Romania, but every week, around 20 OFWs are being deployed as household service workers, factory workers, as well as automotive workers,” Buñag said.
The POLO in Milan has also observed an increase in the hiring of OFWs in Croatia in the sectors of tourism and service industries such as hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Records have it that from less than a hundred, the number of OFWs in Croatia has now increased to 3,035.
During her interview with the employers in Croatia, Buñag gathered that the Croatians preferred Filipino workers, as OFWs are known for being talented, skilled, and proficient in the English language.
“With only 862 Filipino workers, we are expecting that the current deployment rate in Hungary will be expanded because the Hungarian government has also expressed interest in opening thousands of jobs for our OFWs,” the POLO chief bared.
While there is a relaxed Covid-19 health protocol in the European region, OFWs in Milan are still urged to continue observing minimum health standard protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks outdoors, especially whenever they are in public settings. ### Paul Ang
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Umuusbong na merkado ng trabaho sa Austria, Romania para sa mga OFW – DOLE
Sa pagbuti ng sitwasyon ng Covid-19 sa maraming bahagi ng mundo, madami ring bansa ang nagbubukas ng kanilang pintuan para sa mga migranteng manggagawa sa iba’t ibang industriya, karamihan sa health care sector, pag-uulat ng labor department.
Ayon kay Labor Attaché Atty. Maria Corina Buñag, kahit sa gitna ng pandemya, nais pa ring kumuha ng mga Filipino para sa iba’t-bang bansa sa Europa na nasasakupan ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) sa Milan, Italy upang matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan sa mga manggagawa.
“Bukod sa Milan, at Northern Italy, mayroon tayong umuusbong na merkado sa paggawa sa Austria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, at Slovakia. Ang Italy ang mabilis na nagiging aktibong destinasyon para sa ating mga OFW dahil nananatiling matatag at nakaaakit ang trabaho at may malaking pangangailangan para sa mga Filipino,” pahayag ni Buñag.
Sinabi ng POLO chief na umaasa siyang makakuha ang ating pamahalaan ng kasunduan sa Austria kasunod ng kanilang interes na kumuha ng humigit-kumulang 1,000 nurse, nursing assistant, at iba pang manggagawa sa healthcare industry.
“Dahil may kakulangan ng healthcare worker sa rehiyon ng Europa, tinitingnan ng pamahalaan ng Austria na kumuha ng 1,000 nurse, mula healthcare assistant hanggang sa mga rehistradong nurse o kahit na mas mataas na ranggo, para sa paunang proyekto nito. Kaagad tayong magsasagawa ng ocular assessment ng mga prospective employer matapos ang halalan. Ito ay isang pangmatagalang oportunidad sa trabaho para sa ating mga healthcare worker, kung kaya’t kami ay nagsusumikap na makakuha ng isang kinikilalang sertipikasyon para sa ating mga kababayang nagtapos ng nursing,” dagdag ni Buñag.
Ibinahagi din niya na tumataas ang deployment ng OFW sa Romania. “Sa kasalukuyan, may humigit-kumulang 1,500 OFWs sa Romania, ngunit kada linggo, may humigit-kumulang 20 OFWs ang dini-deploy bilang household service worker, factory worker, at automotive workers,” wika ni Buñag.
Naobserbahan din ng POLO-Milan na tumaas ang pagkuha ng mga OFW sa Croatia sa sektor ng turismo at sa service industry tulad ng hotel, resort, at restaurant. Batay sa record, mula sa wala pang isang daan na bilang ng OFW sa Croatia, ay tumaas ito ng 3,035.
Sa kanyang panayam sa mga employer sa Croatia, napag-alaman ni Buñag na mas pinipili ng mga Croatian ang mga manggagawang Filipino, dahil ang mga OFW ay kilala sa pagiging mahusay, at bihasa sa wikang Ingles.
“Sa 862 manggagawang Filipino, inaasahan namin na tataas pa ang kasalukuyang deployment rate sa Hungary dahil nagpahayag din ang pamahalaang Hungarian ng interes na magbukas ng libu-libong trabaho para sa ating mga OFW,” pahayag ng POLO chief.
Bagama’t nagkaroon ng pagluluwag sa Covid-19 health protocol sa rehiyon ng Europa, hinihimok pa rin ang mga OFW sa Milan na patuloy na sundin ang mga minimum health standard protocol tulad ng physical distancing at pagsusuot ng face mask, lalo na kung sila ay nasa mga pampublikong lugar.### Paul Ang/GMEA
