Philippine POEA clarifies job availability in US, UK

01/07/2010   The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) reminded prospective applicants on Wednesday to check first with the agency on the availability of job opportunities abroad, especially for the United States and the United Kingdom.

US jobs

In a statement posted on its website, POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili clarified that job orders approved for the US included not only nurses but also pharmacists and physiotherapists, seasonal workers in hotels, golf courses and resorts, and information and communication technology workers.

Manalili also disclosed that of the 13,360 job orders from the US in 2009, only 876 or 6.5% have been filled up largely due to visa retrogression, or a delay in obtaining an immigrant visa (Green Card) when there are more people applying for it than the number of visas available.

She also clarified that the demand for construction workers was not for the US labor market but for Guam’s planned development of a military facility this year, recruitment for which may take a longer time.

Also, there also no employment prospects for the oil and gas industries in the US so far, she said, belying earlier reports.

Manalili further stressed that the agency has not received requests for approval of job orders for dog handlers in Dubai, contrary to newspaper reports.

“We will make formal announcements as soon as the job offers are confirmed", Manalili said, as she cautioned workers to guard against being victimized by illegal recruiters promising immediate departure for these destinations.

UK jobs

In a separate advisory, the POEA similarly asked applicants seeking employment in the United Kingdom to inquire with its offices first if their prospective employers are accredited or registered under a licensed recruitment agency.

Manalili also advised workers to search the website of the British Embassy-Manila for details on the new points-based system (PBS), and to verify if the jobs are indeed available in the UK.

The POEA explained that under the PBS, the tier 2 work permits, or permits for workers who are citizens of countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA), are applied for by employers who need to fill a vacant position with a specific person. To secure this permit, employers must prove that they had advertised the position nationally and failed to find the right person from inside the EEA.

Employers must also obtain a Sponsorship License for foreign workers, which the POEA advises applicants to ask for first before transacting with UK employers.

Skilled workers are also required to reach at least 70 ‘immigration’ points, based on qualifications, prospective earnings, maintenance funds, and English language capability, for entry to the UK.

'Deceptive scheme' of some schools

In this light, Manalili warned applicants about the deceptive scheme of some training and learning schools. These schools, she said, target mostly nurses, healthcare professionals and students who are required to finish their course in the said school then given promises that their school will facilitate their employment abroad.

Another is the trainee-worker scheme, where workers are recruited and deployed as trainees based on an agreement, even as training and learning schools are not licensed to recruit workers for overseas employment.

Manalili also reminded applicants that UK restricts the charging of any placement to persons seeking employment. She further stressed that all interested jobseekers should ckech the veracity of employment opportunities abroad through the POEA website.

According to the POEA, the Middle East remains the major labor market for overseas Filipino workers in 2010 as the financial crunch has minimally affected the economies in the region except for Dubai.

Saudi Arabia is still a primary destination for OFWs as it embarks on development plans until 2024, including the creation of 12 mega-industrial or economic cities across the kingdom.  POEA Press release

POEA website  http://www.poea.gov.ph/