Slovenia looking to hire 2,000 to 5,000 skilled, semi-skilled Pinoy workers

European Union member state Slovenia reached out to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as they were seeking to hire 2,000 to 5,000 skilled and semi-skilled Filipino workers to increase their workforce.

The opportunities which would be open to these Filipinos would be similar to the ones received by overseas workers in Russia and Canada, the DOLE said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Ang suweldo ay tiyak na mas mataas kumpara sa Middle East. Sa Saudi Arabia aabot lamang ng $400. Sa Slovenia, maaari itong umabot ng nasa P50,000 hanggang P75,000 o mga $1,000," DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

According to Bello, Slovenia and the Philippines first needed to agree on the provisions and template contracts, as well as sign a bilateral agreement. The whole process would take about three months.

The job opportunities included health care workers, nurses, engineers, truck drivers, heavy machine and equipment operators, and household service workers.

Requirements and the opportunities given would be finalized once the agreements were completed. Though, English-proficiency was one of the requirements already decided on.

“Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong mga job order para sa Slovenia dahil dadaan pa ito sa proseso. Inaabisuhan namin ang publiko na hintayin ang pormal na anunsyo na magsisimula na ang pagtanggap ng aplikasyon," Bello reminded interested workers. 

"Mag-ingat at magtungo muna sa DOLE o sa POEA upang matiyak ang pagiging lehitimo ng inyong mga recruitment agency at job order na kanilang inaalok. Ang ibang mga ahensya ay patuloy pa rin sa kanilang operasyon kahit pa sila ay suspendido,” he added.

A technical working group that would handle the negotiations on the provisions and that would ensure the protection and safety of the workers would meanwhile be created. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News