Putin sees need for PH-Russia labor deal — envoy

President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with President Vladimir Putin during their brief meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on May 23, 2017.  MALACAÑANG PHOTO

MOSCOW, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed that there is a need to forge a labor agreement between the Philippines and Russia, Manila’s top envoy said Saturday.

“Very passionate nung ni-raise [ni President Rodrigo Duterte] kay President Putin at ang sabi ni President Putin kailangan ngang magkaroon ng bilateral labor agreement,” Philippine ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta told the Filipino community here before Duterte’s speech.

(President Duterte very passionately raised the issue with President Putin, and Putin said that there should be a bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and Russia.)

Sorreta had earlier said that Duterte would seek to secure a bilateral labor agreement with Russia during his bilateral meeting with Putin.

READ: Duterte to seek PH-Russia labor pact in meeting with Putin

Duterte met with the Russian leader on Wednesday in Sochi city.

READ: After historic firsts, PH reaffirms robust ties with Russia

“Filipinos here in Russia are largely in the household sector — mostly childcare and household service,” Sorreta earlier told reporters in an interview. “And in terms of number, we have about… latest count is about 10,000. And most of them are not properly documented yet. So we’re working to get there.”

“I’m almost sure 100-percent [sure] he [President Duterte] will raise it. We have prepared the groundwork so that hopefully President Putin also has been briefed. And hopefully, they can have some understanding that will push the negotiation into a bilateral labor agreement,” he went on, speaking partly in Filipino. /je