PH, Saudi collaborate to upskill OFWs for healthcare jobs

Students at Asia Pacific Caregiver and Healthcare Training Center, a TESDA-accredited caregiving school in Quezon City, are currently engaged in specialized training focused on proper dressing techniques and bathing for infants.

Among these students is Eunice, who only needs to pass assessments to graduate and obtain her National Certificate II (NC II), a requirement for applying for work. She has already cleared an interview for a Healthcare Assistant position at a medical facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Eunice’s contract lasts two years, but she plans to apply as a caregiver in Canada or Europe after completing it.

“Because no matter how hard you work here in the Philippines, the salary is really low compared to abroad,” she said.

Her classmate, Merlyn, previously worked as a household service worker in Saudi Arabia. After completing her contract and returning to the Philippines, Merlyn decided to work abroad again, but this time she prefers not to return to domestic helper roles.

“As for work, it’s quite difficult being a domestic helper, so I thought I’d switch and learn new skills,” she said.

Like Merlyn, many former domestic helpers are pursuing caregiver training to secure better salaries and benefits, as well as additional protections that the Saudi Arabian and Philippine governments are currently working to establish.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), one key agenda in discussions between Saudi Arabian and Philippine ministers at a recent Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh was the upskilling of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to provide them with advanced training.

This initiative aligns with government targets to send healthcare workers instead of domestic helpers to the Middle East. Negotiations reportedly also aim to discuss wage levels, benefits, and the facilities where OFWs will work.

The DMW prefers that Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East live in designated housing facilities rather than staying with employers.

“Especially, they really have needs for caregivers. The population in Saudi is significant, and if you look at our history, they trust Filipinos because they are accustomed to working with us. We’re very happy that they’re interested in collaborating with us on upskilling efforts,” said Patricia Yvonne “PY” M. Caunan, Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation at the DMW.

In addition to upskilling, the DMW states that Saudi Arabia is also agreeing to establish a Joint Monitoring Program aimed at the welfare and safety of OFWs in the kingdom. This program is part of Saudi Arabia's digitalization efforts and includes stricter vetting processes to ensure workers' safety with their employers.

Additionally, a video chat setup is being considered between employers and OFWs, facilitated by the DMW, prior to deployment.

Other countries are also looking to form agreements with the Philippines regarding upskilling and added protections for Filipino workers. Oman plans to establish a Memorandum of Agreement aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of OFWs that they will require in the coming years.

Furthermore, the DMW is in discussions with Jordan, which is expected to need many male agricultural workers. Jordan is offering attractive benefits for the incoming Filipino workforce.

“They are considering a pilot project where agricultural workers can bring their families to avoid missing them while working abroad,” Caunan explained.

While these agreements are in development, the DMW reminds the public to be cautious of job offers on social media and to be wary of illegal recruiters. They urged individuals to only consult with the DMW for any job opportunities abroad. — BM, GMA Integrated News