Malta is exploring a bilateral labor agreement with the Philippines, as well as a special hiring program for Filipino care workers under a government-to-government arrangement, Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan said Monday.

Care workers in Malta earn a minimum monthly wage ranging from €961 to €1,000 (P62,000 to P64,000). With government bonuses and benefits, the amount can increase to €2,800 to €3,500 (P181,000 to P220,000).

Additionally, Albania is seeking to hire approximately 20,000 workers for its hospitality sector.

In a press briefing on 11 April, Caunan said Filipino workers, especially nurses and care workers, are in demand in Europe, particularly Malta. Filipinos are also employed in other sectors as chefs, waiters, factory workers and shop assistants.

“We are also very proud to say that a significant percentage of public transportation drivers in Malta are Filipinos,” Caunan said. “In fact, they are specifically seeking Filipinos because the reputation of public transport drivers there was not good before, but with Filipinos on board, public transport in Malta has become much more reliable.”

According to the DMW, there are currently some 16,000 Filipinos in Malta, a country with a population of around half a million.