US firms keen on hiring Pinoy workers from Sudan

AMERICAN companies have expressed interest in employing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently rescued by the Philippine government from Sudan, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople said on Wednesday.

Ople said that US businesses are willing to look at the profiles of the displaced employees, most of whom are skilled workers.

The official also said some of the workers include international school teachers, nurses, construction workers, and engineers.

Ople said among the top US employers interested in employing the rescued OFWs included Patty Jeffrey, executive vice president for International Operations of MedPro International, Magsaysay People Resources/Magsaysay Maritime Corporation under Doris Magsaysay-Ho and John Padget, president and chief experience and innovation officer of Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises.

Ople said the DMW is already preparing the OFWs’ profiles, which will be provided to employers in the US and Saudi Arabia, which also expressed interest in hiring Filipinos.

“There are employers in the US and also in the cruise ship industry and Saudi Arabia that are very much interested and would like to see profiles of our workers from Sudan, she said.

“For Saudi Arabia, we are working closely with PEACEME, a recruitment industry association geared towards employment in KSA as well as with the Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development,” she added.

Ople pointed out that livelihood support and assistance are also in place for the displaced OFWs.

"All OFWs have received $200 care of the DMW while they are in Egypt and then livelihood package, financial assistance of initially P50,000 and then through OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) regional offices. The initial P50,000 will be coming from the DMW’s direct aid to the worker, another P50,000 will be given by OWWA to the families of the workers,” she said.

In a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Padget said his group of companies is set to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years. Padget also represents Carnival Cruise

Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn.