Bello sees more jobs for OFWs in China

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. (PNA file photo)

MANILA — After opening jobs for Filipino English teachers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said possible employment opportunities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly medical workers, may soon be available in China.

Bello said he will discuss the possibility of possible hiring of caregivers and nurses during his supposed audience with Chinese Minister of Labor next week.

“I’ll go to China for a possible meeting with the Minister of Labor to discuss possible labor relations,” he said in an interview.

“What we will have is just exploratory talks,” Bello added.

Bello will be in China from April 24 to 27 as part of the entourage of President Rodrigo Duterte for the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

“Yes, I’ll be part of the party of the President but I will leave ahead as I want to meet separately the Minister of Labor,” he said.

Last year, the Philippines and China signed a bilateral agreement involving the deployment of English teachers.

Through the accord, an initial 2,000 teachers would be deployed in the next two years.

The hiring and deployment would be through government-to-government.

The hired teachers will get USD1,200 (PHP62,000) monthly salary and the agreement could be renewed after two years if the need arises.

Meanwhile, Bello reported that the country will be establishing three Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in China.

“We are putting up one in Beijing, one in Shanghai, and one in Shenzhen,” he said.

Bello noted that they are looking to make the POLOs operational before June as they are now accepting applicants for the posts.