More jobs for Filipinos in Canada

By Margaux Ortiz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: September 08, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- With the labor agreements between the Philippines and western Canadian provinces poised to be implemented, more Filipino workers can now look forward to more employment opportunities in the North American country.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque announced on Monday the creation of a composite team tasked to work out mechanisms for the implementation of the memoranda of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Labor and Employment and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

The DOLE forged the MOU with the provincial governments of Saskatchewan in December 2007 and British Columbia and Manitoba early this year.

The government has been scheduled to enter into a similar agreement with the Canadian province of Alberta this month, Roque said.

"The DOLE team has been directed to address urgent concerns affecting the employment of Filipino workers to Canada in areas provided for in the MOUs such as ethical recruitment, human resource development (HRD), training and credentials recognition, and workers’ protection," the DOLE chief said.

The team will be headed by Undersecretary Luzviminda Padilla with technical representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the DOLE Canadian Desk as members.

"The MOUs specifically provide for an ethical, orderly, and expeditious recruitment and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Canada, non-collection of placement fees, protection of OFWs' rights and welfare, and for the provinces to encourage employers to support HRD efforts for OFWs and the reintegration of returning OFWs to the Philippines," Roque said.

He added that the DOLE team, pursuant to the MOUs, would exert efforts towards the setting up of the Philippines-Canada joint consultative council or working committee in a bid to ensure the implementation of the MOU provisions.

"The successful implementation of the MOUs would pave the way for many skilled OFWs to find better-paying and more quality employment that ensures ample protection of their rights and welfare in Canada," Roque said.

He said the team would specifically discuss recruitment guidelines with respective government representatives of the Canadian provinces, particularly on procedures and requirements for hiring workers under programs for temporary workers and provincial nominee, involving government and private employers in Canada.

The team would also explore talks on HRD to provide for Filipino-Canadian cooperation in skills training and upgrading of Filipino workers, Roque said.