DMW: UAE, Oman keen on more Filipino workers, labor agreements :By JP SORIANO, GMA Integrated News

Representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Oman have expressed their interest in more Filipino workers working in their countries, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople told GMA Integrated News. Ople said the UAE needed more Filipino skilled healthcare workers and was interested in a government-to-government track in which no placement fee would be required. "Gusto rin nila ng government-to-government na agreement for other types of workers. Of course, 'yung ASAP request for health workers," Ople said. (They want a government-to-government agreement for other types of workers. Of course, the ASAP request is for health workers.) They also were reportedly interested in a business-to-business track for Filipinos who want to bring their businesses to partner with firms in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE. "So ang mangyayari, ang mga employers mga Pilipino pa rin pero they will be coming in as investors kasi nasa expansion mode din ang UAE," Ople said. "Meron silang economic diversification program. So, isa yun nilang i-explore sa amin," she added. (What will happen is the employers will still be Filipino and they will be coming in as investors because the UAE is in an expansion mode. They have an economic diversification program. It's one of the things they wanted to explore with us.) Ople said Oman expressed interest in a bilateral labor agreement with the Philippines, citing the need for skilled Filipino workers in the construction and free zone industries. According to Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Toots Ople, a joint committee meeting would take place in July 2023 to discuss the details of the possible labor agreement. "For Oman, interesado sila na magkaron ng pinakaunang bilateral labor agreement. Wala pa pala tayong bilateral labor agreement in Oman, ngayon, ang interest nila, magkaron ng joint committee meeting map usapan yung terms and conditions ng kontrata," Ople said. (Oman is interested in the very first bilateral labor agreement. It turns out we still don't have a bilateral labor agreement with Oman. Now, they are interested in a joint committee to discuss the terms and conditions of the contract.) The negotiations for a bilateral agreement and a request for more Filipino workers came as Oman participated in the recently concluded Asia Gulf Cooperation Council in Manila, organized by the DMW with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Omani officials reportedly wanted to hire more Filipino workers to help build and work. "Ang sabi nga nila para sa mga Omani, may special place in their hearts ang mga Pilipino. Very happy sila kung madagdagan pa yung billing ng Pilipino workers sa Oman," Ople said. "May ginagawa silang tatlong free zone, kaya mangangailangan sila ng maraming workers from the Philippines. Kaya gusto nila magkaroon ng bilateral labor agreement," she added. (They said that for the Omani, Filipinos have a special place in their hearts. They'd be very happy if there would be more Filipino workers in Oman. They are building three free zones and they need many workers from the Philippines. That's why they want a bilateral labor agreement.) —NB, GMA Integrated News Tags: Toots Ople, Oman, united arab emirates, DMW

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