The Saudi Ministry of Health and the POEA is in search of at least 5,000 Filipino nurses to fill up the nursing shortage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Of these, 300-500 Muslim nurses will be deployed to the holy cities.

Those without hospital experience may qualify as the Saudi government will provide on-the-job training. For more information, please visit www.poea.gov.ph

Filipino workers wishing to work in Malaysia may take note of the following in demand job openings in the country:

• IT and related skills are needed in Penang, Johore and Kuala Lumpur
• Skilled worker for construction and shipbuilding are in demand in Johore
• Casino workers and entertainers are needed in Genting Highlands Hotels

Filipinos consider nursing as the key to working abroad and earning big time. But the bubble may soon burst as the over supply of nurses looms in the next five years.

The Philippines 400 nursing school reported a staggering 632,108 nursing students are enrolled this year. This is up by 145,875 from the previous year.

This year, a record of 78,797 fresh graduates took the nursing board exam. While there is a worldwide demand of nursing professionals, we would soon have more supply than world demand. When this happens, we will have thousand of nurses jobless or working in other professions. This has happened in the early 90’s. It will surely happen again. 

If you receive an overseas job offer via email, beware. Email scams are proliferating offering high paying jobs to overseas multinational companies. Here is how to detect an email scam:

1. You will be told that they found your resume through a job bank.
2. The company will require you to undergo a seminar/training fee.
3. You will be tasked to pay a reservation fee, OWWA membership and other taxes.

Once you have paid the amount, the person will simply disappear without communication.

To protect yourself from these types of frauds, check and verify the existence of the company and call up the person who sent you the email using the office number of the company.

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) in partnership with Smart Communications has launched a livelihood program for OFW’s and their family. Called OFW I-net Negosyo Program, the package aims to provide a small business to OFW’s so that they have something to look forward to when they return. Smart Communication will provide the OFW family with a Smart Bro Business-in-a-Box package. DBP on the other hand will provide the financing for the OFW.

The OFW I-net package includes:

• Brand new Pentium 4 3.0 personal desktop PC
• 1 year unlimited Smart Bro Internet connection
• Smart load retailer kit with Php 500 worth of load
• Free Smart cellphone (LG KU2050 or Nokia 6070)
• Free streamers and flyers for promoting your business

Interested? Call the DBP Remittance Center at 8189511 up 19 local 2224 or 2226 or 8938885.