The country is now eyeing the deployment of more skilled workers to Germany under a new bilateral labor agreement with the European country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed on Monday.
In a news statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III disclosed they are currently negotiating for the new accord, which may provide employment opportunities for workers from 31 skills and professions in Germany.
Among the skills, which may be covered by the said agreement, are hotel service, electrical engineering and mechanics, sanitation, heating and air conditioning, and childcare.
Currently, the country is primarily deploying health care workers (HCW) to Germany under the Triple Win Program, which is a government-to-government hiring arrangement.
“Since 2013, we have deployed around 1,811 nurses under the Program, which is exempted from the cap on the overseas deployment of Filipino health-care workers,” the labor chief said.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) imposed a 7,000-deployment cap for some HCWs to ensure the country will have sufficient work force for its Covid-19 response.
Alternative pathway
DOLE is trying to come out with another accord, which will provide “another pathway for the recruitment of health professionals” in Germany.
In the proposed scheme, the private sector will be allowed to participate in the recruitment of Germany-bound HCWs.
Bello said they hope both pending agreements will be finalized before the end of President Duterte’s administration.
This is in anticipation of the increase in demand for HCWs, particularly those skilled with geriatric care, amid Germany’s aging population.
The German government and the Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation set up a Geriatric Skills Laboratory in Baliuag University in Bulacan to provide the additional training to HCWs covered by the Triple Win Program.