FILE PHOTO: Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople gives updates on slain overseas Filipina worker Jullebee Ranara on Friday, January 27, 2023. Screenshot from Zoom
MANILA, Philippines — A Japan desk will be opened for the swift processing of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Thursday.
The Japan desk will be set up in the Office of the Secretary of the DMW.
“We want to build stronger relations with Japanese employers and the Japanese government so that the Philippines can be the number one source of skilled workers in Japan,” DMW Secretary Susan Ople said in a statement.
The Japan desk, the DMW said, will expedite the needs of Japanese employers and Filipino workers.
Ople stressed that Japanese employers want more Filipino workers as they are friendly and have an excellent work ethic.
“The general sentiment among Japanese employers was that Filipino workers brightened up their workplaces and were highly reliable and trainable,” the DMW chief said.
Ople had a consultation meeting with 80 Japanese employers and a dialogue with Filipino workers employed there under the Technical Internship Training Program and Special Skilled Worker programs.
Salaries of workers in the East Asian country range from ¥130,000 or P54,548 to ¥900,000 or P377,640.
Ople is currently in Tokyo as she is a part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official delegation for his five-day official visit to Japan.