Deployment of Filipino caregivers to Israel up by 2.53%

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reported that deployment of Filipina caregivers to Israel reached 2,922 from January to December 2017, compared to 2,850 during the same period in 2016. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reported that deployment of Filipina caregivers to Israel reached 2,922 from January to December 2017, compared to 2,850 during the same period in 2016.

Citing the Philippine Embassy in Israel’s report to the Department of Labor and Employment, the 2017 deployment of Filipino caregivers in Israel increased by 2.53 percent year-on-year.

Labor Attaché to Israel Rudy Gabasan noted that although there was an increase in deployment for 2017, this is just minimal compared to the 24.6 percent growth in 2016.

Per the DFA, the high placement fees before coming to Israel is a significant factor to this slight increase in deployment.

Although the minimum wage for household service workers in Israel is bigger than the rest of other Middle East countries, caregivers coming to Israel still pay for exorbitant placement fees which is illegal in both the Philippines and Israel.

To address the problem, the agency said the Philippine and Israeli governments are negotiating a bilateral labor agreement.

The Philippine Embassy expects the deployment of Filipino caregivers in Israel to increase further once a bilateral labor agreement is finalized between the two countries.