Phl, Switzerland sign trainee exchange deal

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippines and Switzerland signed last Friday the technical guidelines to facilitate the exchange of professional trainees from both countries.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber signed the technical guidelines for the implementation of the Swiss-Philippine agreement on the exchange of professional trainees.

The trainee agreement signed in 2003 enables the exchange of young Filipino and Swiss trainees to pursue their professional experience in the other country. 

The technical guidelines were developed to improve and facilitate the implementation of the agreement on the exchange of professional trainees signed in 2003. 

“Today’s adoption of the technical guidelines is a significant step which will further clarify the modalities of the Swiss-Philippine Trainee Agreement,” Sieber said.

He noted that the trainee agreement was an innovative instrument for young professionals from both countries to develop their skills and at the same time broaden their personal and cultural experience.

“With the signing of these guidelines, an important milestone toward the full implementation of the trainee agreement could be achieved,” said.

Intending to further utilize the potential of the Swiss-Philippine Trainee Agreement, a joint technical working group was created by the Department of Labor and the Swiss Federal Office for Migration in December 2010 to work on the details of the implementation and facilitate the procedures for the exchange of trainees. 

The guidelines also provide all needed information for future trainees and employers from both countries.