POEA offers zero placement fee for some job opportunities abroad

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said that job seekers are not required to pay the placement fee for some jobs being offered abroad, according to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the zero placement fee is applicable for jobs made available under a government-to-government agreement with some foreign countries.

Olalia said the government is looking at employment opportunities that will soon be available in “emerging markets” such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, Romania, Croatia, and Hungary.

“Ang Israel ay nagsimula nang mag hire ng ating hotel workers… yung sa Australia isa itong another labor agreement pertaining to healthcare workers. According to them, mahigit isang libong healthcare workers ang kakailanganin natin,” he said.

(Israel started hiring our hotel workers… we have a labor agreement with  Australia pertaining to healthcare workers. This will need more than a thousand healthcare workers.)

“Magpapadala rin ang bansang Pilipinas ng mga skilled and professionals natin papuntang Canada,” he added.

(The Philippines will also send our skilled workers and professionals to Canada.)

At the POEA office, several Filipinos bound for abroad were seen preparing for their requirements.

One of them was Frederick Bautista, who will return to South Korea as a worker in a furniture company.

Bautista was unemployed for a year due to the pandemic. But in June, his employer processed his application.

“Medyo malaki-laki po ang sinasahod ko sa ibang bansa. Para sa pamilya at kinabuksan ng mga anak ko.”

(I earn quite a lot abroad. This is for my family and the future of my children.)

Nurse Cyrell Anne de Leon is processing her document to go to Saudi Arabia.

De Leon said he does not want to be separated from her three children, but she has no other choice.

“Para sa future ng mga bata. Ang anak ko tatlo na at lumalaki na,” she said.

(This is for the future of my kids. I have three kids and they’re growing up.)

POEA said job opportunities abroad are opening up as more countries relax their COVID-19 restrictions.

Some of the jobs needed abroad are healthcare workers, factory workers, hotel staff, transportation and aviation staff.

The POEA, meanwhile, advised the public to always check their website for job openings overseas.

It also urged Filipinos to get training and upgrade their skills.

“Katuwang po ng departamento namin ang TESDA para sa patuloy na empowerment through the skills of our OFWs,” Olialia said.

(Our department is partnering with TESDA for the continuing skills empowerment  of our OFWs.)—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News