Oman suspends visa issuance to skilled workers




The issuance of visas to foreign skilled workers who want to work in Oman will be temporarily suspended for up to six months, GMA News' JP Soriano reported on 24 Oras on Wednesday.
The Oman Ministry of Manpower said it wants to prioritize and give opportunities to their citizens.
This will affect Filipinos who work in various sectors such as information technology, accounting and finance, and even medical sector. Visas of Filipino workers may not be renewed.
"Ang mga talagang tatamaan po nito 'yung mga nandon na po sa Oman na nasa private sector po. Baka hindi na ma-renew 'yung kanilang mga visa," said Roland Collado, president of the Philippine Association of Agencies Accredited to Oman (PAAAO).
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), for its part, said Oman's decision "coincides" with the Philippine government's efforts to lessen the number of Filipino workers being deployed to Oman.
"It should not be a cause of concern to us. Sabi ko nga kasi we are in the process of downgrading 'yung deployment namin doon so baka nag-coincide 'yung action nila atsaka 'yung action namin," Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
Nevertheless, DOLE will still get reports from labor attaches as to the effect of the suspension on Filipinos working in Oman.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) assured the Filipinos in Oman that if they will be affected with the suspension, they can find opportunities in other countries like Japan.
Japan currently needs farmers, skilled workers who have knowledge in electronics, welders, painters, machine operators, and household service workers, according to POEA.
"Ready naman ang POEA, may mga alternative markets na tinitingnan para kung saan pupunta 'yung ating mga OFWs na still may ardent desire to work abroad," POEA deputy administrator Joecelyn Sanchez said.
Data from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas showed that as of June 2017, there were more than 43,000 Filipinos in Oman. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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