Philippines, Israel to fast track deployment of 500 OFWs in April

The Philippines and Israel are coordinating to fast track the deployment of the initial batch of 500 Filipino hotel workers in the first week of April, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.

The DFA said Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog Alberto met officials of the Israel Hotel Association (IHA) to ensure that the workers arrive in Israel ahead of Passover and Holy Week, both peak holidays and tourist-draws for the country.

“As Israel reopens its tourism industry, allows the entry of both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, and eases its travel and health restrictions, its hotel sector will require a full workforce to cater to the expected influx of tourists to the Holy Land,” the department said in a statement.

“The project is under the 2018 Philippines-Israel labor agreement for a government-to-government arrangement for Filipino hotel workers for Israel,” it added.

The IHA said its members may require up to 10,000 laborers and expressed readiness to hire 800 Filipino hotel workers, adding that it will be increased to 2,000 at the earliest opportunity.

The association also praised the Filipino workers’ professionalism, English proficiency, and work ethic.

The Philippine Ambassador to Israel also assured that the embassy is working closely with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) as well as with Israeli labor and immigration authorities for the earliest deployment of Filipino workers.

“The ambassador also proposed that Israeli hotels also take in Filipino students [for] on-the-job training programs, which the IHA positively received and committed to consider after the initial deployment of Filipino workers have been accomplished,” the DFA added.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News