Up To 7,100 More OFW Jobs Available in South Korea

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque reported in a news release that the overseas Filipino (OFW) quota for jobs required in South Korea is now 7,100 versus last year's 5,700 - according to an article in the Inquirer.

The article goes on to say that a total of 6,445 Filipinos took the Korean Language Test (KLT) in various testing centers nationwide, a requirement by South Korean government for hiring. He said the examinations conducted in Manila, Pampanga, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao by the Korean Human Resources Department went smoothly, with no reported negative or unfavorable incident.

Roque said 3,344 examinees took the KLT in Manila, 2,076 took it in Pampanga, 554 in Baguio City, 310 in Cebu, and 161 in Davao.

The labor chief said hiring resumed only recently after South Korea strictly enforced the requirement that prospective OFWs take and pass the country’s language proficiency test.

He reiterated that many Korean employers still prefer Filipino workers, adding that a second KLT will be given around the fourth quarter of the year.

He said that under the Employment Permit System (EPS) of Korea, foreign workers earn an average of $1,000 a month.

In a related development, Roque said preparations are on for the signing of an implementing arrangement for the implementation of Korea’s Returnee Support Program for OFWs.

Roque said this program is patterned after the National Reintegration Program of the Philippines in which returning OFWs are given a chance to smoothly join the mainstream of society with assistance to training and livelihood programs.

He said Korea’s Returnee Support Program has two components; technical training onsite, usually on Sundays, for business or employment, and job referral to RP-based Korean companies (for returning workers).

Roque said that last year, as an enhancement of its assistance program for foreign workers, the HRD established caring centers nationwide to provide temporary shelter, food, and counseling to workers who have been let go and are looking for new jobs.

To address the language issue, Roque said Korea’s HRD likewise launched last year the three-way phone conference where the worker can talk to his employer through an interpreter.

The Abu Dhabi Job Fair

An article from UAE's The National posted that of a recent job fair in early February where drones of people arrived from all over the world

Some people are looking for better opportunities while some are just picking up from there whey were laid off. I don't think it's much better out there than it is in the Philippines. So think clearly people before you pack those bags.

The Tawdheef recruitment fair, which runs until Thursday, began at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ostensibly to showcase the opportunities available to young Emiratis.

However, workers from the Philippines and India also turned out in droves to interview with local human resources firms and to find more stable employment as the fear of layoffs continued to mount.

“We would like to find a job with accounts. Our present employer is a small travel agency,” said Rosella Franco, 28, who was filling out an application at the fair alongside her husband. Both are from the Philippines.

She said they were looking for a job within the government sector because they are concerned about their prospects in the smaller firm.

“We started to worry because of the recession,” she said. “I feel that if I can find a government job, that will provide a good future for my family.”

Ian Giulianotti, the director of Nadia recruitment, said the job market has changed dramatically over the past 18 months.

“Before, if you had an open house, the people looking for a job would be unemployed,” he said.

“It’s a matter of supply and demand. If you came to me 18 months ago and said, ‘I need a secretary,’ you would get three CVs and you would have to make a decision within three days. Then you would have to offer 50 per cent more pay,” Mr Giulianotti said. “Now if you ask me for a secretary, you’ll get between five and 10 CVs and you could make an offer that was non-negotiable.”

The instability of the market has also led to non-payment and job insecurity, he said.

“People are sitting around, noticing companies not doing well and they ask, ‘should I jump before I’m pushed?’”

OFW Advisory: Secure Clearances for the Christmas Holiday. POEA Office Will Be Open On Peak Days

Care of the OFW guide, Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) planning to go back to the Philippines for a vacation this December are advised by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to secure their exit clearances early. This can be done by going to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in their respective host countries before their flight back to the Philippines.


By taking care of exit clearances even before arriving to the Philippines, you don’t need to go the POEA office in Ortigas to get clearances when it is time for you to return to your host county. It will also prevent long lines and crowds at the POEA so the OFWs and the government agency are spared of the holiday hassle.


Accoding to Jennifer Jardin-Manalili, POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili long lines at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center has long been a common sight at the POEA office after the holiday season.

OFWs that are going back to Philippine provinces may get exit clearance in POEA offices located in Clark Field in Pampanga and the cities of Baguio, Tuguegarao, San Fernando in La Union, Calamba, Legazpi, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, and Davao.

Manalili also said OFWs could use the overseas employment certificate courier system available at their website (http://www.poea.gov.ph).

All POEA offices will remain open during the peak days of December 22, 23, 24, 26, and 29; and January 9, 2009.

Filipino Job Seekers To UAE - Do Not Travel With UAE Tourist Visas

Urgent update from Abu Dhabi has asked Filipino job seekers to not travel to UAE in search for jobs on a tourist visa as these Filipino job-seekers are more vulnerable to exploitation and likely to accept anything offered to them by the prospective employers to beat their visa expiry dates.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Libran N. Cabactulan issued this official statement as the UAE government is going to implement stricter requirements for visit and tourist visas from August 1 this year. The Khaleej Times Online, expounds on this:

He said the UAE government is stipulating the new visit visa guidelines because it is better for both the country of origin and the UAE to have no people on visit visas if the same creates problems for workers, employers and their respective governments.

The Philippine Ambassador said of the ten Filipino job-seekers who come on visit visas, only three or even less find the right job they have ever wanted.

"Those who get jobs are also vulnerable to low salary offers and inhumane working conditions as the employers take advantage of the job-seeker's situation," he said.

He advised all Filipino workers to go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Manila to find out whatever jobs are available in the UAE and which manpower agencies are recruiting workers to fill in these vacancies before coming to Dubai.

"If our job-seekers insist on finding jobs through the usual procedure, the employers here cannot offer them a salary much lower than what they should receive and won't have the chance to take advantage of them in any way," he added.

The UAE is now second to Saudi Arabia in hiring professional and skilled Filipino workers. Hence, there is a great opportunity for Filipinos to come here as a registered and bona fide worker through the usual employment channel instead of taking risks by coming on visit visas, the ambassador said.

Those who are already here must try their best to convert themselves into resident workers, he said. Once they get employed, they should register themselves with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office in Deira to avail themselves of all benefits and rights due to a Filipino overseas worker.