Australia needs Pinoys to fill 300,000 job vacancies

MANILA, Philippines - With the continued labor shortage foreseen in the next ten years, Australia said that it prefers thousands of skilled Filipino workers to fill up the 300,000 job vacancies in its southern region. Kevin Foley, South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry and Trade, said he conveyed to Philippine Labor Secretary Marianito Roque that his region is targeting Filipinos to work in the medical, construction, electronics and service-oriented sectors. “Around 300,000 jobs will be opened. We are in need of more nurses, doctors, medical practitioners, highly skilled engineers, welders, chefs and other skilled workers," Foley said. Foley said the success of the existing agreements between the Philippines and three Canadian provinces to hire more Filipino workers has been a catalyst for South Australia to follow a similar course. He said the South Australian mission will be assessing local skills, particularly in the building and motor/metal trades, and see if Australia’s strict immigration requirement can be met through cooperative arrangements for appropriate skills training and mutual recognition of accreditation. Foley added that the South Australian government is planning a follow-up visit to the Philippines with a business delegation that will include a range of employer representatives in February 2009. “I have discussed our interest to Secretary Roque, which will act as a precursor to a Memorandum of Understanding between our two governments," Foley said. According to Foley, Roque responded favorably to the South Australian government proposal due to its strong credentials in implementing successful immigration, settlement, and cultural integration programs and services for migrants. The Philippines currently represents South Australia’s sixth largest source market for migrants, many of whom are helping to ease the demand for trade skills at a time the region is experiencing low levels of employment. South Australia, which is the major construction hub for Australia’s defense maritime vessels and military aircrafts, is one of the eight states and territories of Australia and has a population of only over 1 million. Its capital city, Adelaide, is considered the gateway to the region. “We are urging Filipino migrants and businessmen and companies to go to South Australia. It has a safe and comfortable environment and it has a lot to offer in terms of business and labor opportunities," Foley said. - GMANews.TV