OFW Family Club will hold a mega overseas job fair at Tutuban mall on December 7, 2007. The job fair will also offer other services like free legal assistance, medical and eye check up, even free massage and massage training. Listen to Bantay OFW radio show at DXL for more information.

A series of OFW reintegration caravans will be in key cities nationwide to deliver reintegration services closer to OFWs and their families. The caravan started last Friday, November 23 in Baguio City. Caravans in Manila, Davao City, Iloilo City would follow in December.

The caravans would be an opportunity for OFWs and their families to find productive means where they can invest their earnings and subsequently mitigate the impact of the strong peso on remittances,” DOLE secretary, Brion said.- DOLE

Bonifacio Ucat and his family was chosen as the Metro Manila’s MOFYA Regional Awardee for 2007. Ucat and his family’s achievements were recognized in a simple awarding ceremony held on November 5, 2007 and attended by OWWA Administrator Marianito D. Roque.

Ucat is an OFW for 24 years. He is now a retired seaman and working in the mission for community services and administering new church building projects. He is also a Sunday school teacher in CLPMI Maliksi Bacoor Cavite and an active member of PNP-MOST (Moral and Spiritual Transformation). Last September 30, he was awarded by the NGO, Apostleship of the Sea, OUTSTANDING SEAFARER OF THE YEAR AWARD (OSYA) for “Excellence in Community Service”. Ucat’s Family believes that because of prayers, they received the blessings of God. Click here for the complete story.

DOLE Secretary Arturo D. Brion decided to “hold further action on Department Order No. 86-07 in light of expressed concerns on the security/peace and order situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria.

Under this situation, the complete ban on Iraq, Lebanon and Nigeria remains. While we previously allowed the deployment of new hires and returning workers to international organizations in Afghanistan, the DFA will not issue any ‘no objection’ certificate for Afghanistan, hence there is also an effective complete ban.”

POEA issued out another warning against recruiters who promise jobs in China especially for domestic helpers and teachers. Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, POEA chief said that employment of domestic helpers, including nannies and caregivers, is closed to foreigners and is limited only to Chinese nationals. Some Filipinos victimized by illegal recruiters arrived in China using Chinese business “F” visas, whose holders cannot use to work in China.

Baldoz also warned teachers regarding dubious employment opportunities in China supposedly for English language teaching positions especially those found in the internet.