Pinoy domestic workers to undergo skills assessment

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of Filipino domestic workers abroad will soon undergo skills assessment to secure a national certificate (NC) that will allow them to look for better jobs.

Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) director general Joel Villanueva said yesterday preparations are underway for the on-site skills assessment to be conducted in Hong Kong and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Competency assessment and certification services will be provided to those who wish to confirm whether they possess the competencies required in their preferred jobs,” Villanueva said.

TESDA will announce in its website those who have successfully passed the competency assessment. Villanueva said a national certificate will be issued to a candidate who has hurdled the assessment procedure. The NC has a five-year validity.

According to Villanueva, TESDA is offering skills assessment in an effort to open better-paying and more satisfying careers for Filipino household service workers.

TESDA and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ARE initiating the skills assessment in countries with a huge population of Filipino household service workers such as Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore.

From Aug. 16 to Sept. 9, TESDA and DOLE conducted a profiling of sample Filipino workers in Hong Kong, consisting of 296 individuals in household service work.

Domestic helpers in Dubai are also undergoing profiling in preparation for the assessment.

After the profiling, TESDA will deploy accredited assessors who will conduct the assessment.

Competency assessment would be offered initially in food and beverage servicing, housekeeping, hairdressing and beauty care.

Villanueva said the government will also provide the necessary intervention such as skills training, scholarships, job facilitation, entrepreneurship opportunities and other training and employment services to assist Filipino workers.