American business firms have expressed interest in employing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently rescued by the Philippine government from Sudan, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said on Wednesday.
“They’re willing na tingnan ‘yung profiles nung mga galing Sudan kasi sabi ko these are skilled workers. Sabi ko, may international school na teachers may mga nurses, mayroon ding construction workers tsaka mga engineers. So sabi naman nila, they’re willing to look at the profiles,” Ople said.
Ople said among the top US employers interested in employing the rescued OFWs included Patty Jeffrey, executive vice president for International Operations of MedPro International, Magsaysay People Resources/Magsaysay Maritime Corporation under Doris Magsaysay-Ho and John Padget, president and chief experience and innovation officer of Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises.
Ople said the DMW is already preparing the OFWs’ profiles, which will be provided to employers in the US and Saudi Arabia, which also expressed interest in hiring Filipinos.
“There are employers in the US and also in the cruise ship industry and in Saudi Arabia that are very much interested and would like to see profiles of our workers from Sudan, Ople said.
“For Saudi Arabia, we are working closely with PEACEME, a recruitment industry association geared towards employment in KSA as well as with the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development,” she added.
Ople pointed out that livelihood support and assistance are also in place for the displaced OFWs.
“All OFWs have received US$200 care of the DMW while they are in Egypt and then livelihood package, financial assistance of initially Php50,000 and then through OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) regional offices. Yung initial na Php50,000 will be coming from the DMW’s direct aid to the worker, another Php50,000 will be given by OWWA to the families of the workers,” she said.
Some 536 Filipinos are currently being assisted in Cairo, Egypt, DMW Undersecretary Hans Cacdac said.
Cacdac said 49 students and an OFW returned to Manila. Some 181 of the 340 rescued Filipinos are currently staying in hotels in Cairo.
He added 76 were repatriated last May 3 via Riyadh; 83 of them on the following day, also from Riyadh.
Cacdac said 104 OFWs are still in Argeen, Sudan and are expected to arrive in Cairo last May 3.
He added 14 from Abu Simbel, in Qastal had arrived on Wednesday. Initial reports said some 28 Filipinos in Qastal on the side of Egypt are currently heading to Cairo.
Cacdac reported 49 OFWs managed to reach Jeddah in Saudi Arabia with 44 of them arriving home to the Philippines.
In a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and his delegation on Tuesday, Padget said his group of companies is set to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years.
Padget also represents Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn, praised Filipino workers.
On the other hand, MedPro International is an industry leader in the recruitment, training, and staffing of foreign-educated healthcare professionals.
Since 2006, the company has helped thousands of foreign-educated healthcare professionals achieve a rewarding career in the U.S.
There are more than four million Filipino immigrants (temporary and permanent) in the United States, representing the 4th largest immigrant group after Mexicans, Indians and Chinese.
Through their remittances, the Filipino workers contribute to the economic development of both the US and Philippines with their skills, talent and expertise. (PND)
