PRBA to help Pinoys find jobs in Russia

CEBU, Philippines - Following the interest of the Russian government to hire nursing aides in the Philippines, the Philippine Russia-Business Assembly together with the Consulate office in Cebu vowed to facilitate the link between Filipino professionals to Russian employers.

Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation Armie L. Garcia announced that her office, in collaboration with PRBA will help nursing aides to get employment in Russia.

To equip these professionals, specifically nursing aides, who may want to work in Russia, Garcia said they have to learn Russian language and should have enough background about Russian culture.

"The Russian Government and the Philippine Government now welcome talks to invite Filipinos to work in Russia," said Garcia.

Garcia said that the Russian government has noted a strong interest to hire Filipino nursing aides to work in 500-bed government hospitals, particularly in St. Petersburg.

In his official visit in the Philippines last year, Evgeny Marchenko, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg met with key government officials in Cebu where he expressed interest in putting up a program to ensure the proper deployment of Filipino workers to Russia in accordance with Philippine and Russian laws.

"In general, there is a growing demand in Russia for Filipino workers," Marchenko said, where he praised the Filipinos' good reputation as "diligent, skilled, and friendly workers."

Also, in order for Filipinos to get an edge in terms of getting employment, as well as prepare for influx of Russian tourists to the Philippines, Russian language and culture should be learned, the lady Consul added.

Marchenko noted that the Russian labor market presently needs physicians, nurses, medical attendants, caregivers, housing maintenance and utility workers, and construction workers, airplane pilots, among others.

In the medical sector alone, he said that there are over 8,000 vacant positions.

He said though that prior training in the Russian language and culture will also be required of Filipinos wishing to work in Russia.

The Russian Consulate in Cebu and PBRA will manage the training of Filipino workers for employment in Russia, Garcia said.

The PRBA's counterpart in Russia is the Russian-Philippines Business Council of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (FREEMAN)