Effective January 1, 2008, United Kingdom (UK) will start implementing its new immigration policies for all foreign workers. Edgardo Espiritu, Philippine Ambassador to London, announced this information. One of the proposed changes presented to the UK Parliament last March is that all visa applicants in UK will now be required to have a sponsor.

Under the new system, applicants for a UK visa will be classified into five levels and will be subject to a points-based system. This new rule will cover all foreign workers except the highly skilled. –OFWGuide

The negotiations of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and President Giorgio Napolitano bring good news for all OFWs in Italy.

PGMA said, “I have ordered the DFA to lower passport renewal rates from the present 65 Euros to only 50 Euros, and the reduction of fees for affidavits and notarization from 32 Euros to only 25 Euros.”

PGMA also announced that Filipinos with a driver’s license would automatically obtain an Italian diver’s license. The Philippine government would continue to seek better pay and other benefits for Filipinos working abroad.

The fourth quarter copy of the Filipino Image Magazine is now out in PDF format. You can read the whole 112 pages magazine by following this link.

The economic boom of Asian countries like South Korea and Taiwan made recruitment of foreign workers including OFWs necessary. The increased labor demand is needed for the construction of major infrastructures and industrial projects.

Danilo P. Cruz, Acting Labor and Employment Secretary noted a report from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), saying that Taiwan and South Korea remain one of the main destinations for Filipino factory workers. Other professions that are in-demand in Taiwan are Information technology (IT) professional and healthcare workers. On the other hand, Korea is in need of workers for their construction and shipbuilding industries.

Other Asian countries with job openings for foreign workers are Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Singapore is looking for hotel managers, supervisors, and skilled workers including croupiers, dealers, chambermaids, and waiters/waitresses.

Malaysia needs IT professionals and skilled workers for the construction, ship building and ship repair industries

In Brunei, there are openings for casino workers and entertainers at Genting Highlands Hotels and Resorts. Workers for industries of oil and gas, hotels and restaurants, and skilled and professional workers such as fabricators, riggers, high-pressure operators, managers, and engineers are also needed.

OFWs bound to Saudi Arabia are now obligated to submit their old passports to be granted a visa. This is a new requirement from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. For those without old passports, a certificate from the Department of Foreign Affairs stating that that the passport issued to them is their first must be submitted.

This new rule covers all visa applicants except for household service workers like domestic helper, family driver, houseboy, babysitter, family dressmaker, family cook, and private nurse.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines is located at:

389 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue Extension, Makati City
Telephone Number.890-9735
Fax Number: 895-3493 (Embassy), 890-9315 (Ambassador’s Office)