DMW: PH, Germany eyeing ‘sustainable’ ways to recruit Filipino workers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday said the Philippines and Germany have signified their intentions to come up with a sustainable agreement in the recruitment of skilled Filipino workers.

Migrant workers Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan, in a media briefing, said the two nations’ move is not yet a final agreement, but only a joint declaration of intention.

“Dati rati ho ang tingin natin ay kumukuha lamang ang mga bansa [sa] ating mga skilled workers, including ang ating mga nurses at naiiwan nang walang workers o nurses dito sa Pilipinas,” said Caunan.

(We used to think that neighboring countries only hire our skilled workers, including our nurses, and we are left without workers or nurses here in the Philippines.)

“Nagkasundo ang Germany at ang Pilipinas na mag focus sa isang sustainable type of recruitment kung saan titingnan natin kung paano sila makakatulong in making sure na ‘yung shortage sa Pilipinas when it comes to our local demand [would also be addressed],” she added.

(Germany and the Philippines have agreed to focus on a sustainable type of recruitment where we will see how they can help in making sure that the shortage in the Philippines when it comes to our local demand [would also be addressed].)

Caunan said the DMW is hoping that the signing of the final agreement between the two countries would take place before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visits Germany in March. 

Asked why this joint declaration of intention is special, Caunan answered, partly in Filipino: Because it doesn’t only focus on health care workers, but all skilled Filipino workers.

German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Manila on Thursday where she had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

The two diplomats affirmed their nations’ commitment to peace and development and rules-based order.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said labor cooperation was also discussed during the meeting, with a specific focus on the placement of skilled Filipino workers and other professionals to live and work in Germany.

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