Filipino construction workers set to arrive in Singapore by March
BOOMING. Singapore's rising construction industry is looking to the Philippines to fill the demand for skilled labor. File photo from AFP
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino construction workers seeking overseas jobs have a new destination to look forward to – Singapore. The island-nation is opening its doors to Filipino to meet growing demand due to a construction boom that is expected to last until 2015.
A Channel News Asia report says about 15 Filipino construction workers are set to arrive in Singapore in March. The workers received their skills certification at the Overseas Testing Center (OTC) in the Philippines managed by Santarli Construction. There are plans to open 3 more OTCs in the Philippines this year. Without these OTCs, foreign construction workers hoping to find work in Singapore cannot be certified.
Singapore looks to bring in some 200 Filipino construction workers a month.
But Filipinos will face stiff competition in a market long dominated by Chinese, Indian and Bangladeshi workers. To their advantage will be a good command of English and their education. Filipino workers can earn around SGD800 per month or $30 a day.
“They will not come cheap. They will command a better salary, but in return they are better skilled, they are more productive,” said Neo Choon Keong of Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority. Neo adds that the government will leave it up to the companies to decide how many actual Filipino workers they will hire. – Rappler.com
