PH, Germany ink labor pacts on enhanced deployment of OFWs

FILE: Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (PCOO photo)

MANILA – The Philippine and German governments on Wednesday signed two more labor agreements aimed at enhancing the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the European nation.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the signing of the bilateral labor agreements will provide more job opportunities not only to Filipino medical workers but also to other professionals.

He reported that a letter of intent signed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), represented by Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the German Federal Employment Agency represented by its Director for International Relations Alexander Wilhelm, will facilitate the recruitment, deployment, and employment of Filipino professionals and skilled workers in the host country.

“This partnership will open opportunities for Filipino professionals and skilled workers, specifically Electrical Mechanics and Fitters, Electronics Servicers, Cooks, Hotel Receptionists, Waiters, and Plumbers and Pipe Fitters,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Bello and German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach also signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the deployment of Filipino healthcare professionals to Germany to enhance the recruitment procedure for nurses under the private recruitment track and include other healthcare professionals.

The labor agreement will also provide work opportunities for physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, biomedical scientists, and other allied health professionals whose professions are regulated by appropriate professional bodies both in the Philippines and Germany.

“With this development, better job opportunities, in addition to nurses and other professionals, await our skilled workers as we showcase the competence and exemplary talents of the Filipino workers,” Bello added.

The MOU complements the Triple Win Project, a government-to-government arrangement of the POEA and the Federal Employment Agency/International Placement Services in Germany that paved the way for the recruitment of Filipino nurses.

The Triple Win Project provides access to employment opportunities for Filipino nurses in Germany and assurance of a sustainable and fair recruitment procedure as well as the long-term development of skills and transfer of knowledge. Since its implementation, about 1,811 Pinoy nurses have benefited from the agreement.

“As the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte completes its term, we thank the government of the Federal Republic of Germany for working together to meet our shared goals of decent, ethical and sustainable labor and migration framework. More importantly, we are very grateful to the German government for treating the Filipino workers the same way you treat your citizens,” Bello added.