Arabic lessons now given to OFWs to boost hiring

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — More household service workers (HSWs) are expected to be hired in 2014 in the Middle East with the implementation of the Arabic language training course (ALTC) by private recruitment agencies, according to a leader in the recruitment industry.

The ALTC would help ease the “very tight” pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) schedule of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which has resulted in the delayed exit of many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the Middle East and other destinations, migrant expert Manny Geslani.

He said that most often, the clogged PDOS schedule resulted in the expiration of visas provided by foreign principals and the loss of jobs for OFWs.

“By allowing Philippine recruitment agencies to conduct the Arabic language course, this would allow the OWWA and other nongovernment organizations holding PDOS to double the number of facilities and lecturers that will concentrate on other subjects under the PDOS curriculum,” Geslani said.

The Department of Labor and Employment recently granted licensed recruitment agencies the authority to conduct the ALTC.

Under the order, the agencies will have to set up their own training programs accredited by the OWWA. The three-day ALTC shall be free of charge.

“The new department order will allow a greater shared responsibility between the government and the private sector in the welfare and development of HSWs with the guidelines issued by the OWWA,” said Geslani.