China hiring Pinoy teachers, maids

China is hiring thousands of Filipinos – mostly English teachers and household service workers (HSWs) – as part of an agreement with the Philippines set to be signed at the end of the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his Chinese counterpart is set to arrive and sign with him tomorrow a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the opening of jobs to Filipinos.

“I still do not know the number of workers stated in the MOU,” Bello pointed out.

But based on an earlier meeting with Chinese officials, Bello said about 100,000 Filipino teachers and 100,000 Filipino HSWs are expected to be hired.

Labor officials said China wants to hire Filipino workers because of the latter’s proficiency in English as well as their good work attitude.

Meanwhile, the labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) sees better working conditions for Filipino workers with the signing of the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of Migrant Workers.

TUCP said the signing is a positive step toward improved labor and occupational safety standards among the 10 nations belonging to ASEAN.

After the signing of the consensus, TUCP is also looking for the formulation of an action plan in 2018 that would compel ASEAN countries to improve their labor and occupational safety and health standards for migrant workers.

Without improved standards in the ASEAN, TUCP said there would be no genuine people-centered economic growth and shared prosperity in the region.