In a small but busy classroom at the Asia Pacific Caregiver and Healthcare Training Center in Quezon City, a group of students is practicing how to properly dress and bathe infants. This school is accredited by TESDA, meaning it provides official training for those who want to work as caregivers.
One of these students is Eunice, who is just one step away from finishing her training. She only needs to pass her final assessments to graduate and receive her National Certificate II (NC II)—a requirement for anyone who wants to apply for jobs abroad.
Eunice has already passed an interview for a Healthcare Assistant position in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She has a two-year contract, but she’s already thinking ahead. Once she finishes her job in Saudi, she dreams of working in Canada or Europe, where caregivers earn even higher salaries.
“No matter how hard you work here in the Philippines, the salary is really low compared to abroad,” Eunice shared.
From Household Work to Healthcare Jobs
Eunice’s classmate, Merlyn, used to work in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper (a household service worker). After completing her contract, she returned to the Philippines, but she wants to work abroad again—this time in a different job.
“Being a domestic helper is very difficult, so I decided to learn new skills and switch careers,” Merlyn explained.
Many former domestic helpers like Merlyn are now training as caregivers because this job offers better salaries, benefits, and worker protection. Both the Philippine and Saudi Arabian governments are working together to upskill Filipino workers so they can qualify for better opportunities abroad.
Why the Philippine Government Supports Upskilling OFWs
At a recent Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, Saudi ministers and Philippine labor officials discussed a major plan:
✅ More training programs for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
✅ Higher wages and better benefits for caregivers and healthcare workers
✅ Improved working conditions, including proper housing for OFWs
Instead of sending more domestic helpers, the Philippine government now wants to prioritize sending skilled healthcare workers to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. This shift is happening because of the huge demand for caregivers in Saudi.
“Saudi Arabia has a large population and a growing need for caregivers. They trust Filipinos because we have worked with them for a long time,” said Patricia Yvonne “PY” M. Caunan, Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
More Protections for OFWs in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi government has also agreed to set up a Joint Monitoring Program to ensure the safety and well-being of OFWs. As part of their digitalization efforts, they are introducing stricter vetting processes to protect workers from abusive employers.
A new video chat system is also being considered. This would allow OFWs to speak with their employers (facilitated by the DMW) before they even leave the Philippines.
Other Countries Want to Hire Skilled OFWs Too
It’s not just Saudi Arabia that is working on agreements with the Philippines. Other countries are also interested in hiring skilled Filipino workers:
🇴🇲 Oman wants to create a Memorandum of Agreement to improve the skills of OFWs.
🇯🇴 Jordan is looking for male agricultural workers and may offer a pilot program where they can bring their families to live with them abroad.
Beware of Illegal Recruiters!
While these official agreements are in progress, the DMW warns Filipinos to be careful when looking for jobs online. Many illegal recruiters post fake job offers on social media. To stay safe, job seekers should only apply through the DMW or accredited agencies.
The future looks bright for Filipino caregivers and healthcare workers! With the right training and government support, more OFWs will soon have higher-paying, safer jobs abroad. 🚀🌍💙
