Church official lauds PH-Japan labor pact

A Catholic official has lauded a Philippine agreement with Japan to pave the way for Filipino workers to travel to the world’s third largest economy for employment.

Bishop Ruperto Santos, who heads the Church’s migrants ministry, said the deal is “very valuable” and will give better protection of blue-collar Filipino workers.

“With this our overseas Filipino workers to be hired will be truly guided for the process of recruitment and deployment,” Santos said.

“We are grateful and appreciative with their caring efforts to promote and safeguard our OFWs,” he said.

The agreement, signed recently in Tokyo, opens the door for Filipino workers of getting jobs in Japan under a new specified skills residency in the host country.

The labor deal was also aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries against illegal recruiters.

“The hiring of ‘specified skilled workers’ is also a recognition of the qualifications of our OFWs as highly knowledgeable, trustworthy and dependable workers,” added Santos.

As of June 2018, there were about 280,000 Filipinos residing and working in Japan, of whom around 34,000 are professional and highly skilled workers.

The Labor department said that Filipino workers may corner at least 30 percent of some 350,000 jobs that Japan will offer to foreigners starting April 11.