Aspiring Hungary OFWs prefer factory jobs

Factory work emerged as a top choice among jobseekers at a Hungary-exclusive job fair in Manila, where many aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) applied for machine operator and technician positions.

The job fair, held on 11 March with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), was attended by both former OFWs and first-time workers.

Among the applicants was Divina Gallo, who previously worked in Taiwan in 2011. Now working in a factory in Bocaue, Bulacan, she traveled on her day off hoping to secure an overseas job.

“My previous job in Taiwan was as a machine operator, but I stopped in 2011 when I got married and had children,” Gallo said.

Darvin, another applicant from Surigao del Norte, also sought a technician and machine operator role. He previously worked as a factory worker in South Korea from 2017 to 2020 under the Employment Permit System, a program allowing foreign workers to be employed in the country.

He recounted that he stopped working abroad in 2020 to start a small business in his hometown. However, the business is not consistently earning, which led him to seek work abroad again to support his family, including his three-year-old child.

“My job here in the Philippines is the same as my work abroad, but the salary is much higher overseas. Also, we get to develop more skills there because we’re not limited in what we can learn,” Darvin said.

Participating recruitment agencies, including Lifelinks International Resources, confirmed the strong demand for factory positions, noting that many applicants are former overseas workers with relevant experience. However, the number of applicants who will be accepted remains uncertain.

“We can’t say what percentage of applicants will be hired. It’s up to the client to decide based on the interview,” Lifelinks recruitment officer Jayson de Jesus said.

He cited that available job opportunities have no age limit and are open to Filipinos with or without experience, though good communication skills and passing interviews and medical exams are key factors in securing employment.

According to the DMW, over 2,000 Filipinos participated in the job fair. The event was part of Philippines-Hungary Friendship Week and aimed to connect Filipino jobseekers with potential employers.