S. American nation keen on hiring more OFWs

The government of Suriname, a tiny country on the northeastern coast of South America, has expressed its interest in hiring more Filipino workers, Ambassador Marichu Mauro said over the weekend.

In a report to the Home Office in Manila, Mauro said she learned about this when she visited Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, for the presentation of her credentials to President Desiré Bouterse as non-resident ambassador to that island-country on July 27.

Mauro is currently the country’s resident envoy to Brazil.

Prior to that, the Filipino diplomat also met with Suriname Foreign Affairs Minister Yldiz Pollack-Beighle to discuss the enhancement of bilateral ties between Manila and Paramaribo through identification of specific projects.

During the meeting, the Suriname official noted the presence of Filipino workers in her country as she expressed her government’s desire to hire more in the skilled worker category.

According to Mauro, there are about 500 Filipinos currently working in Suriname in the medical, hospitality and other service sectors, as well as in the fishing and mining industries.

Right after her official meetings, Mauro met with members of the Filipino community in Suriname to check on their well being and addressed concerns, specifically on issues involving employment contracts and residency.

She assured the Filipino community that despite the distance of Suriname to Brazil where the Philippine Embassy is situated, “every effort will be given should they require assistance.”

The Embassy conducts regular consular services in Paramaribo to attend to the consular and other needs of Filipinos in the South American nation.