More job openings in Canada will available soon for Filipinos after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) signed a labor cooperation agreement with the government of Yukon.
Yukon is the smallest and westernmost territory of Canada and DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III said the labor cooperation agreement aims to facilitate the deployment of Filipino workers under the Yukon Nominee Program, which is driven by employers looking to fill critical vacancies unoccupied by Canadians or permanent residents.
There are approximately 5,000 Filipinos in Yukon and most of them have already become permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
“The Memorandum of Understanding that we are signing today not only strengthens our bilateral labor relations but will also enhance our cooperation in the protection, recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers in Yukon,” said Bello.
The agreement, which was negotiated since 2019, will be implemented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Yukon’s Department of Economic Development. it alsoprovides that employers and their agents, including immigration consultants, are prohibited from charging any fees for recruitment services and selection.
Both Bello and Pillai welcomed the MOU, which was negotiated since 2019.
“It has been almost three years since we’ve met and signed the Philippines-Yukon Joint Communiqué in Whitehorse, Yukon. The Joint Communiqué paved the way for the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and Yukon on the Employment and Protection of Filipinos under the Yukon Nominee Program,” said Bello.
The screening of qualified Filipino applicants will begin as soon as the implementing guidelines were approved by the Joint Working Committee to be represented by Consul General Maria Andrelita Austria, Deputy Consul General Arlene Magno, and POLO Vancouver Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul, Jr.