Taiwan, RP ink the Memorandum on SHPT in Tagaytay

THE 5th R.O.C. (Taiwan)-Philippines Joint Labor Conference was successfully concluded in Tagaytay last July 26.

The signing of the Memorandum on the SHPT (Special Hiring Program for Taiwan) by Ambassador Donald C.T. Lee, representative of TECO, and Ambassador Antonio I. Basilio, representative of MECO, as witnessed by DOLE Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz and BEVT Director General Lin San-quei was the highlight of the event.

Director General Lin San-quei of the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training (BEVT) in Taiwan arrived in Manila on July 25 to lead the Taiwanese delegation on behalf of Minister Wang of the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) in Taiwan.

He was welcomed at the airport and accompanied throughout his visit by officials from DOLE and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

The opening ceremony of the 5th Taiwan-RP JLC was co-presided by BEVT Director General Lin and DOLE Undersecretary Danilo P. Cruz. During the meeting, labor regulations regarding the deployment and management of overseas Filipino workers went under discussion.

The conclusions are as follows: (1) Set up a joint technical working group (TWG) to more efficiently address unresolved issues. (2) Agree to promote direct hiring and assist employers in recruiting OFWs by direct hiring. The Philippines will support this action by establishing an online recruitment system. (3) Protect OFWs from exploitation and human trafficking by disseminating information on human trafficking, and providing needed travel documents to victims for their safe return. (4) Determine fair and sustainable policy on placement and service fees for OFWs.