POLAND NEEDS THOUSANDS SKILLED WORKERS FOR ITS AGRI & MANUFACTURING SECTOR

PASEI Supports Labor Agreement with Poland

To fast-tract OFW deployment in manufacturing and agricultural sectors

Market Square - wherein the statue of Warsaw Wilanow Palace is shown as the rallying symbol of the city.

Warsaw—The Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI), which has just concluded a six-day marketing mission here, yesterday expressed support to the initiative of the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw for the establishment and forging of a bilateral labor agreement (BLA) between the Philippines and Poland as a way to fast-track the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to this prosperous East European country.

In a press release, PASEI President Elsa U. Villa said such a bilateral labor agreement, which Philippine Ambassador to Warsaw H.E. Patricia Ann V. Paez broached during a meeting with the PASEI marketing mission delegation, is the most logical process as Poland is just opening up its labor market to third-country nationals (TCNs) like Filipinos.

“Poland is in need of thousands of workers for its manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Our estimate, based on our meetings with Polish employers, is that this could reach over 100,ooo, but the most orderly, the safest, and legal way to deploy OFWs to Poland is for the Philippine government, specifically the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Labor and Employment to immediately sit down with Polish authorities to discuss and conclude a bilateral labor agreement that would provide the framework for PASEI member-agencies and other licensed recruitment agencies in the country to already conclude recruitment agreements with Polish employers,” Villa said.

 Villa said that although Poland could be an ideal alternative work destination for OFWs because of some similarities in both countries’ religious culture, both being devoutly Catholic, there are differences in Polish and Philippine labor laws that a bilateral labor agreement could address.

“The labor market realities in Poland are different, such that many provisions of the POEA Rules and Regulations do not apply, and therefore, the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will need to address these,” said Villa.

Some of the issues that the PASEI official said need to be addressed are recruitment costs; the issue of joint and several liability; transfer during the employment period; and workers’ benefits, such as food and accommodation.

“While Poland, like all the EU member countries, observe the highest labor and human rights standards that preclude serious welfare problems, there are standards in the existing POEA rules and regulations that are not aligned with the labor market conditions of Poland,” Villa explained.

But despite of these, she explained that Poland is very much willing to welcome Filipino workers because it is in much need of skilled labor, aggravated by an aging population and the exodus of Polish workers to more prosperous EU countries, such as Germany, France, and the UK. To fill-up its huge shortage of labor, Poland has welcomed over a million workers from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Moldavia, and Georgia.

Relative to this, PASEI Board Chairperson Edwina Lema-Beech warned OFWs against illegal recruitment for new labor markets like Poland, saying that illegal recruiters could leverage the fact that Europe is a high-end labor market to lure OFWs to illegal recruitment schemes.

“OFWs should know that the EU has very strict rules and regulations on immigration, including work migration. Illegal recruitment for work to any EU member country, including Poland, is not tolerated and is severely punished with stiff fines and long jail sentences, including deportation,” Lema-Beech said.

The PASEI’s Europe Marketing Mission is composed of the following: PASEI President Elsa U. Villa, president of Krona International Services Systems, Inc.; Edwina L. Beech, PASEI Chairman and President of Mabuhay Personnel & Management Services, Inc.; Julie Rose M. Inso, President, Coreteam Manpower Services, Inc.; Rowena M. Paragas, President, NYD International Placement Agency, Inc.; Raquel E. Bracero, President, Peridot International Resources, Inc.; Susana A. Virtus, President, All Seasons Manpower International Services, Inc.; Kenneth L. Martirez, Vice President, Aram Enterprises, Inc.; Christina dela Cruz Frey, President and CEO, Chartreuse Prime Recruitment Specialists, Inc., and her daughter, Zeanne Michelle DC. Bello, Corporate Secretary and Sales and Marketing Manager; Jovita G. Baltazar, Marketing Consultant, Humanlink International Manpower Agency; Mary Mei Victorino, President, Mother’s Way Overseas Manpower Specialists Corporation; Jenny P. Clavero, President, Mountain Peak International Human Resources Corporation; Lea M. Singian, President, Provident Overseas Placement Agency; Rose Marie M. Lainez and Joan H. Lainez, President and CEO and Corporate Secretary, respectively, R.I.S.E. Manpower Services; Grace C. Woo, President, VALESCO-SMS; Richard A. Bonifacio, General Manager, Venture Management Systems, and his spouse, Rossana; Marites Joan G. Quezon, President, JOBS Manila International, Inc.; Cristina S. Honor, President, Cleopatra International Placement Agency, Inc.; and Myrna A. Magalong, General Manager, Transnational Services, Inc.
(VerGarciaBlogs)