Philippines signs labor deal to allow Filipinos to work in Israel

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and his Israeli counterpart, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin. PHOTO FROM DFA

MANILA, Philippines — Israel and Philippines signed a labor agreement that allowed 1,000 Filipinos to work in Israeli hotels, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv said the agreement was signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and his Israeli counterpart, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Neal Imperial said 1,000 jobs are expected to be generated by the agreement which came three months after a landmark accord on Filipino caregivers signed between Philippines and Israel last September.

DFA was referring to the “Memorandum of Agreement on the Temporary Employment of Home-Based Filipino Caregivers,” signed by President Rodrigo Duterte during his four-day visit in Israel.

The said labor agreement for caregivers would “ensure that the exploitative placement fees that are being charged to our workers would be substantially reduced, if not, eliminated.”

READ:  Duterte, Israeli PM Netanyahu meet; witness signing of deals

The Embassy’s data showed that an estimated 28,000 Filipinos currently work in Israel. /je