MANILA, Philippines — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has earmarked P5 million from its scholarship fund this year for language test review classes of returning Filipino workers displaced by the Saudization program.

In a letter to Labor Secretary and TESDA board chair Rosalinda Baldoz, TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the review classes will be offered for free to OFWs to open up fresh opportunities for employment in the country or abroad.

The review program is open to OFWs interested in working in Australia and Canada, which Baldoz identified earlier as possible countries that may absorb Filipino workers to be affected by the new Saudization labor policy.

Prompted by the national policy to encourage employment of Saudi nationals and reduce unemployment, the Saudi Arabia government has put in place a new Saudization or "Nitaqat" program.

Prior to issuance of working visas, both countries require proficiency in English as a Second Language (ESL).

An initial 1,000 slots will be allotted for workers who will undertake review classes for International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL).

"We don't want the impact of Saudization blowing up in our faces. Before it is totally felt, we want to have the measures in place to ease its impact on our OFWs and give them hope for new jobs," Villanueva said.

Fund source

The Php5 million fund will be sourced from the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), one of TESDA's scholarship and educational assistance programs.

DoLE and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will come up with the criteria for selecting the OFWs eligible for the assistance.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires prospective migrant workers to demonstrate an adequate level of English proficiency by passing among others the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test.

On the other hand, the Citizenship Immigration Canada (CIC) requires that work applications in Canada be accompanied by the assessment results of the applicant’s English language proficiency.

Minimal impact

Baldoz is optimistic that the new Saudization program should not be a cause of undue worry because it may have a minimal impact on prospective OFWs bound for Saudi Arabia and on those who are already there.

OFWs who are employed in small establishment, those in the red and yellow coded categories, as the ones most likely to be affected by the new labor policy. These include cleaners, guards and watchmen, construction workers, and other low-skilled types of workers, explains the labor chief.

For more information on TESDA programs and services, call 887-7777, send SMS message 09174794370 (Globe) 09182738232 (Smart) or follow us in Facebook (TESDA, Sec Joel Villanueva TESDA) and Twitter (SecJOELngTESDA).