More than 1,000 applicants joined the Philippines-Finland Friendship Week Job Fair on Wednesday according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). 

DMW on Thursday said the job fair recorded an on-site attendance of 1,068, with 590 pre-registered attendees and 478 walk-in applicants. 

The job fair logged 2,932 total applications, representing multiple submissions by aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to several agencies. Of this number, 308 applicants were qualified, 251 were not qualified, while 2,373 were marked for further interview. 

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said the job fair offered around 800 vacancies, with most coming from the production and manufacturing sectors. 

“These are works in the manufacturing setup or the production setup; so there are welders, pipefitters, installers, fabricators. There are also service and cleaning positions,” Bay said. 

She also emphasized that no placement fee and no salary deduction are allowed for Finland deployments.

“The minimum [salary] for general labor ay €1,250, the highest is €5,000, and the policy is there is no placement fee,” Bay added.

One of the participating licensed recruitment agencies, Industrial Personnel and Management Services, Inc. (IPAMS) said they are hiring “as many as possible” for skilled industrial positions. 

“At the moment, our biggest sector is industrial technology. So we have positions for machinists, we have positions for concrete workers, and welders. Welder is a big need that we have in the building at the moment,” Rebekka Kiljunen, employer under IPAMS said, adding that their initial contracts last for one year.

“And then we hope to renew it, and we wish the employees to stay with us forever. “

She explained that salaries vary but follow Finland’s collective labor agreements, adding that applicants must understand the progressive tax system of Finland, where deductions depend on income level. 

Long-term stay could also open opportunities for residency, provided workers maintain a good employment and legal record.

Lala Macaranas, Senior Manager for External Communications of IPAMS advised that applicants’ experience must match the job applied for. They should also have a ready passport and police clearance. 

DMW requirements must also be strictly completed. 

Around 15,000 Filipinos are currently in Finland to date, including 5,000 OFWs in healthcare, service, and manufacturing.