| Filipino workers' deployment continues despite global crisis |
KUWAIT: "Despite the global economic slowdown, the Philippines is expected to deploy around 20,000 or even more workers to Kuwait in 2009," revealed the Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya at the start of a two-day jobs fair which opened yesterday at the Movenpick Hotel in Shuwaikh Free Trade Zone. The jobs fair organized by the Asean Culture Network (ACN) was graced yesterday by Endaya and the Philippines' Labor Attach� to Kuwait Josephus Jimenez. Dozens of recruitment agencies from Manila and
Kuwait are taking part in the event, along with a number of remittance companies.
We have around 7,000 Filipinos entering Kuwait in the first quarter of 2009 who will be deployed as health workers and many of them in the hospitality services, no domestic helpers. The message is clear; we have much to offer in terms of manpower and we are not just a place where you can get domestic helpers, but also a place for skilled and semi-skilled workers," added Endaya.
The number of Filipino workers in Kuwait could reach more than 150,000 by the end of this year, he added.
In an earlier interview with the Kuwait Times Ambassador Endaya noted that employment opportunities for Filipinos will continue as Kuwait's economic activities continue to be buoyant despite the global slowdown. He said that sustained economic growth in Kuwait was the main reason for the continuing recruitment of Filipino workers.
The good thing about Kuwait is that they have enough savings to be used in 'rainy days' [during economic downturns], so in the face of a global slowdown they are not affected because they have enough savings to help or bail out companies in case of bankruptcy," he noted.
The event is the first time that the Filipino Embassy has sponsored such an exhibition. Endaya explained that the idea of a recruitment fair was first proposed way back in mid 2008 way before the global economic crisis became an issue.
Our intention is to generate employment for Filipinos but also to help shift the attention of Kuwaiti employers to make them aware that we can be a source of skilled manpower," he said.
Endaya noted that with the continuing demand for Filipino workers and the assurances of Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah when he visited Manila in mid-2008 that the country would employ more Filipino workers, there could be more employment summits like this one in the future, maybe as soon as June this year.
We have engineers, computer analyst, medical professionals and even bank executives. This is what we are trying to promote at this employment fair and we are inviting you to consider Filipino skilled workers," he added. According to Endaya, Filipinos in Kuwait contribute around US$250 million a year out of a total US$18 billion remittance from Filipinos from all over the world.
Labor Attach� Josephus Jimenez echoed Ambassador Endaya's statement, saying that the jobs fair hosted by Asean Culture Network (ACN) would be a bridge linking employer to manpower recruitment agencies and workers. "In the face of global crisis, we have to help each other, because we believe if there is no employer, there will be no agencies and if there are no agencies there will be no employment opportunities for Filipino workers. So everybody here must be protected, everything must be clear and the docum
ents submitted must be duly notarized," he said.
Jimenez welcomed the participating recruitment agencies who in some cases came all the way from Manila, Malaysia and Singapore to participate in the two-day employment fair.
The jobs fair also provides opportunities for Filipinos in Kuwait to look for available jobs in Kuwait and abroad. The event also provides Philippines-based recruitment agencies to highlight their services to local companies or employers.
During the opening ceremony, all those attending were treated to some cultural presentation from pupils at two Philippines schools based in Kuwait. - Kuwait Times
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| Posted on:
28/01/2009 |
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