Official wants Pinoys to fill in Russian job posts

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from developing the Philippine-Russian relations, a proposed labor migration to Russia is eyed to pave the way for the improvement of Philippine tourism, more investments, and increase of dollar remittances contributed by Overseas Filipino Workers.

St. Petersburg Russian Federation Legislative Assembly Deputy Evgeny Marchenko lauded the Filipinos for their very good personal traits and character.

Marchenko had been working on a research on labor migration in Russia and was working with the medicine commission in legislative consul in St. Petersburg for so many years.

He also stated that there is a lack of medicine staffs in their city nowadays. There are 8,000 vacant places in medical sector like nurses and caregivers, something that he said Filipino workers do very well.

"From my personal experience of travelling around the world. I have met many Filipino workers at the hotels and cruise ships, and I saw with my own eyes their good qualified labor etiquettes. It was the best advertisement for your country because I was interested in your workers and it was the staff workers that interested me so much," said Marchenko.

Marchenko decided to offer Filipino workers to work in their Russian hospitals.

He also mentioned that the reason why he offered this project to Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation Consul Armi Lopez- Garcia is so they could research and discuss on the labor migration to Russia and the number of vacant places and salaries.

He said he can't give specific figures yet for the number of vacant places and salary but he can assure that they can accommodate numerous Filipino workers and their level of salary is the same in oil countries which means that it is much higher than the salary in the Philippines.

"We should understand that our Russian economy is developing despite the world economical crisis, that's why we need foreign workers. We are investing huge sums of money on this project," he said.

He also added that they have discussed one sector that they need help which is the sector of aircraft pilots because they lack well-qualified pilots. Russia has a new law that allows foreign workers to drive foreign aircrafts.

However, he also cited difficulties that need to be addressed to achieve the said project. There are still two international agreements that are yet unsigned, although this was already discussed in Manila with the Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz who promised to act on these projects.

Meanwhile for these projects, there should be an accordance of Russian diplomas to Philippine diplomas for higher education.

"The most important thing is the learning of Russian language for Filipino workers. They have to study it in advance so that they can come in Russia and work without problems," he said.

Garcia will take care in providing a specialist that could teach Russian language to the Philippines.

Marchenko added that aside from the language, Filipino workers has nothing to worry since the Russian people are quite similar to them and their main religion in Russia is Christianity.

"I will protect and help Filipino workers and make their life easier and better," he said.

Marchenko also said that back in Russia, there is a discrepancy in the actual number of foreign workers.

"Some say that there are about five to seven million workers while others say that there are three to four million. I think the number differs because of some illegal workers with no visas or expired visas. On the estimation of foreign workers, about 2,000 of them are Filipinos," said Marchenko.

He also cited that the Filipino workers should have visas when they decide to go to Russia and it is important for the Philippines to solve this problem.

"It will depend on your government now. Your workers are the best advertisement of your country. And as soon as your workers will come to our country, you'll have many Russian tourists and investors here. I was persuaded that there are things that can be done and invested here," stated Marchenko.

Foreign remittance in the Philippines will also increase, he said.

Marchenko cited that the project will start between Cebu and St. Petersburg. They had already met and talked with Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III who he had already approved the project.

So did Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Philippine Russian Business Assembly Board Director Caesar Atienza said they are tasked to manage the implementation of the initial stage of the sending of workers to Russia especially in St. Petersburg. Atienza said that they will send the most qualified and best prepared workers.

"The ball is on our side now. It is important that the local officials will really push for the signing of this agreement. This will spell closer ties between our countries and at the same time, much as it will help our country, we would also be there to help Russia," said Garcia. /JMD (FREEMAN)