PH, Croatia agree on no placement fee, jobs for Filipino hospitality workers

The Philippines and Croatia on Tuesday agreed on several matters aimed at advancing the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the two countries are working on the potential deployment of healthcare workers and agreed to streamline work permits and residence cards to boost labor mobility, strengthen cooperation on Pre-Departure and Post-Arrival Orientation Seminars (PDOS and PAOS), and improve coordination to ensure workers entering Croatia through third countries are properly documented and protected.

Croatia has also opened 435 job opportunities in its hospitality sector under the government-to-government pilot hiring program.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr. signed on behalf of the DMW, while State Secretary Ivan Vidis represented Croatia.

The signing took place at the DMW main office in Mandaluyong City, coinciding with the Philippines–Croatia Friendship Week celebration.

"To our partners from the Croatian government and employment sector, thank you for your trust in the Filipino workforce and for upholding fair and transparent hiring practices under our bilateral agreement," DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

There are currently about 12,000 Filipinos working in industries including hospitality, construction, and services in Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia, the DMW said.  —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News