50,000 jobs await Pinoys in four countries

More jobs await Filipino nurses and other skilled workers abroad, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reported yesterday.

POEA Administrator Rosalinda Baldoz said the government is currently negotiating the hiring of over 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

"The government of Australia has opened new quota of 50,000 which would enable Filipinos to work there as temporary or permanent residents," Baldoz said.

The jobs needed in Australia include nurses, doctors and trade-related employment.

Baldoz added that there were also job orders coming from New Zealand but its government has yet to submit the number of workers needed for employment.

Just like in Australia, the workers can choose to stay temporarily or become permanent New Zealand residents when they apply.

Baldoz also reported that Indonesia and Hong Kong have also opened other job opportunities for Filipinos aside from the traditional hiring of domestic helpers.

She said Hong Kong have so far hired over a hundred Filipino clowns and other novelty performers to work in the soon to open Disneyland while Indonesia hired professional ballet dancers.

Baldoz said they expect more Filipino entertainers would be hired when Disneyland in Hong Kong starts its operations in September.

On the other hand, an estimated 2,500 overstaying Filipino workers in Oman are facing possible arrest as its government prepares to launch a massive crackdown against illegal migrants.

Acting Labor Secretary Manuel Imson said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is launching a campaign to inform Filipinos there about the planned crackdown to save them from possible imprisonment.

Imson said overstaying foreign workers would only be required to pay a fine to prevent them from being detained before departure if they would voluntarily return home.

"So we are now appealing to overstaying Filipinos in Oman to voluntarily return home to avoid arrest," he said. — Mayen Jaymalin