PH, Croatia forge stronger labor ties with pilot hiring program for Filipino hotel workers
DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay and Croatian Employment Service Director General Ante Loncar formalized the deal through a virtual ceremony on Thursday, witnessed by Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Bernas and Croatian Labor and Employment Director Luka Čirko.
Described as a pilot initiative, the agreement lays the groundwork for a streamlined, ethical, and secure hiring process in Croatia's hospitality industry, while ensuring robust protection mechanisms for Filipino workers.
'This milestone marks a significant step toward facilitating safe, ethical, and government-to-government job opportunities for Filipinos in Croatia's hospitality sector,' Bay said
The initiative reinforces the broader cooperation under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in the Field of Labor Market, signed by both countries in October 2024 and ratified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this year.
Pre-departure preparation for workers will be conducted by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the DMW's Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau, ensuring that hotel workers are fully briefed and equipped for employment abroad.
The DMW emphasized that this partnership not only opens new doors for overseas employment but also reflects the Philippine government's commitment to ethical labor mobility and stronger international partnerships.
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