Australia, S. Korea firms hiring skilled workers

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Two companies based in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia and South Korea are interested in hiring skilled workers from Negros Occidental, with an offer of about P2-million salary per annum, Provincial Legal Officer Jose Ma. Valencia said. 

Januario John Rivas, Philippine Honorary Consul General to the Northern Territory of Australia, recently wrote Governor Alfredo Maranon, Jr. expressing the offer of Acacia Building Industries and Tile Force for employment of skilled workers from the province.

Rivas said the general managers of these two companies will be arriving in Negros Occidental this November to visit the vocational training schools in the province and to recruit skilled workers for the Australian labor market.

These companies need workers in the areas of tiling, carpentry and roofing, under a 2-year contract with a salary is P2.1 million gross per annum, he said.

Sae Kim, general manager of Tile Force, said the company will also hire workers specializing in CO2 welding for the shipping industry in South Korea, with a gross salary of US$2.5 thousand per month.

Among the requirements in the hiring of skilled workers is English proficiency, said Rivas adding that all applicants must pass the skills test and the IELTS (International English Language Test Scheme) exam with the passing rate of 5.5 out of 10 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. 

All applicants must have training certificates duly approved by TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), he said.

If the applicants passed the screening and skills test they will be hired through direct-hire scheme. Airfares and fees shall be shouldered by the companies, Rivas added.

Valencia said they are planning to train applicants at the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center in preparation for the November hiring. - THE FREEMAN