MANILA, Philippines - A total of 300 teachers employed as household service workers (HSW) in Hong Kong have passed a special licensure examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in that Chinese territory.
Labor Undersecretary Reydeluz Conferido said these domestic helpers now have the choice to return home and work as teachers.
The PRC will give a similar licensure examination for HSWs in Dubai, Singapore and Taiwan, he added.
Conferido said the government is making available 40,000 vacancies in various schools nationwide to HSWs who have passed the licensure examination.
“We don’t know yet how many of them will accept our offer, but what the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) is giving them is the genuine option to go back and practice their profession,” he said.
Teachers working as HSWs will be given priority in available teaching positions following the implementation of the K to 12 program, Conferido said.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has announced plans of the DOLE to initiate programs to enable overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to veer away from domestic work and land higher paying jobs.