A pilot project that was recently launched by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Labor Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to provide 1,500 jobs for Filipino workers in UAE.

Job vacancies for OFWs in UAE will be in the health care, hospitality and construction industries. Officials said that this project will benefit 3,000 workers from India and the Philippines. The project will also track activities of the workers from the hiring process to reintegration.

According to the UAE government, they will first try to implement the project for

temporary contractual employment. If the project yields positive results, it will be institutionalized.

The project will track activities of the workers from the hiring process to reintegration. The four cycles of employment are recruitment, residency, preparation for reintegration and reintegration. Cycle two and three will be handled by the UAE.

Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque, "This is an advantage to both sending countries [like the Philippines and India] as well as destination countries like the UAE."

Roque added that the agreement with UAE shows the commitment of the Philippines to expand "safer migration channels.

Meanwhile, the Labor Minister of UAE, Saqr Gobash Saeed Ghobash said the project would ensure welfare of the workers.

Mr. Ghobash said, "Our government wants to make sure that the workers we are getting know what they are getting into and we want to help them."

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was present during the program launch of the pilot project and its members praised the move of UAE to participate in something that would promote "safe migration.”

Christopher Lom, IOM Asia-Pacific spokesperson said, "We want to encourage more regional participation. Regional agreements [like this one of India, Philippines and UAE] are easily replicable."

The mechanisms of the pilot project and the criteria for the selection of workers are yet to be finalized.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief, Rosalinda D. Baldoz, said "We’re happy because finally, destination countries are doing their responsibility to provide means to train and help to reintegrate the workers. It shows that the Middle East is finally opening up."

View the latest job openings of UAE in WorkAboad.ph.