DOLE signs MOU with Romania for ‘safe’ employment of OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Romania for the recruitment and safe working conditions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country.

In a statement, DOLE said the MOU was signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Romanian Embassy Chargè d’Affaires Mihail B. Sion last week as part of celebration of Migrant Workers' Day.

Bello said the agreement between DOLE and the Romanian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection will further strengthen bilateral relations in terms of labor, employment, and social protection between the Philippines and Romania.

"Romania is a great opportunity for Filipinos to work as hospital caregivers and skilled workers," Sion said, adding that Romania has a competitive labor market with many Asian migrants from Vietnam, Nepal, and India coming to the country for work.

There are currently about 1,500 OFWs in Romania working in the health and safety and transportation sector, representing only 20% of migrant workers in the country.

The Romanian ambassador ensured that Romania is a safe, orderly and decent country for OFWs.

According to DOLE, Romania is the seventh country in Europe to have an MOU with the Philippines after the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. — Jamil Santos/RSJ, GMA News