German companies in the Philippines see more employment opportunities for Filipinos to Germany no just in healthcare but in other
This follows the signing between governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the Federal Republic of Germany of two new labor agreements enhancing partnerships for the deployment of overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the healthcare industry and other professional services.
German Federal Minister of Health Prof. Karl Lauterbach and DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that aims to enhance the recruitment procedures for Filipino nurses under the private recruitment track and expands the coverage of skills and specialties which includes physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, biomedical scientists and other allied health professions.
The agreement ensures the fair treatment and protection of Filipino healthcare workers who apply through the German Agency for Health and Care Professionals (DeFa), a non-governmental institution.
The MoU will provide a common legal framework for the Philippines and Germany, that will direct the recruitment and placement of HCWs. I
“The aim in coming up with this MOU was to provide an avenue for deployment through private agencies despite the deployment cap.” said German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, at a virtual roundtable discussion organized by GPCCI on June 17.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), represented by Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the German Federal Employment Agency represented by director for International Relations Alexander Wilhelm signed a letter of intent that will facilitate the recruitment of Filipinos in other skilled professions such as cooks, electrical mechanics and fitters, electronics servicers, hotel receptionists, plumbers, and waiters.
GPCCI executive director Christopher Zimmer said “the deployment of Filipino HCWs in Germany has always been an important topic for us as a chamber and this recent progress indicates a bright future for the sector and also shows a significant milestone in the history of Philippine-German bilateral relations.”
“We are glad to see this agreement come to life after all the challenges brought about by the pandemic in the healthcare recruitment sector,” he said. – Irma Isip
