The Philippines and Ontario, Canada have forged a bilateral agreement strengthening labor relations between them and opening doors wider for Filipinos workers to find employment in Ontario.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Ontario Labor Minister Monte McNaughton recently signed a joint communique recognizing the strong relations between the Philippines and the Canadian province of Ontario,
The two officials are also set to ink a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on labor cooperation.
Bello said the agreement with Ontario was part of DOLE’s program to find more countries for Filipino workers.
Bello conveyed his appreciation for the opportunities provided by the Ontario to Filipino workers. He was optimistic that the MOU would be signed soon.
He likewise hailed Ontario’s recent programs intended to provide workers with complete protection and bigger salaries.
With 75 percent of Ontario’s workforce being immigrants, McNaughton highlighted their programs recognizing immigration as a key to strengthen economic development.
These included the Bill 27 or the Working for Workers Act of 2021, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, and the reduction of the language proficiency requirement for internationally educated workers.
McNaughton also conveyed his appreciation for the contributions of Filipino workers, not just to Ontario but the whole of Canada as well.
He hailed the frontline workers during the height of the Pandemic, saying his province was “truly grateful for their hard work and sacrifice.”
Ontario, located in Central Canada, remained to have the most significant number of Filipinos at 337,760 working in Canada.