Mandaluyong city: Croatia is actively recruiting Filipino skilled workers through a government-to-government (G2G) program with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), with the first batch of successful applicants to undergo a final interview with their employers before they are deployed.
According to Philippines News Agency, during the Philippine-Croatia Friendship Day at the DMW office in Mandaluyong City, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized that the hiring of Filipino workers through a G2G program ensures the ethical and transparent recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Cacdac highlighted the program, signed last year with Minister Marin Piletic in Zagreb, as a significant step towards ensuring safe and ethical labor mobility for Filipino workers in Croatia. The current hiring program is in full swing, with implementing guidelines signed a few months ago. The first batch is set to be recruited soon, with a job fair scheduled for Wednesday.
Croatian State Secretary for Labor Ivan Vidi‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ praised the contribution of Filipino workers, noting that approximately 16,000 Filipinos are already working and living in Croatia. Vidi‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ stated that Croatia, now the second fastest-growing economy in the European Union, is seeking skilled workers for its expanding hospitality, construction, healthcare, and processing industries. The average monthly salary in Croatia is around PHP97,000. Vidi‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ assured that Filipino workers are well paid and receive the same treatment as Croatian workers. He highlighted the safe and transparent hiring process through the G2G program. Croatia anticipates a 3 percent increase in its GDP this year, leading to the creation of about 30,000 to 40,000 new jobs across various sectors.
Both Cacdac and Vidi‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡ emphasized that the G2G arrangement between the Philippines and Croatia prohibits placement fees and other recruitment charges. Croatian employers cover all recruitment and processing costs, representing a model of safe and fair migration that the Philippines aims to replicate with other partner nations.
Among the first batch of 212 applicants now in their final interview are Marianne Paac, a 35-year-old single mother and former OFW in Dubai, and Ryan Littaua, a 23-year-old hospitality graduate. Paac appreciated the transparency and protection offered by the DMW G2G program, noting her previous negative experience in Dubai. Littaua expressed excitement about starting his career in Croatia’s tourism industry and exploring the country.
Martina Samac, HR representative of Adriatic Luxury Hotels, announced their company is hiring about 500 seasonal workers for hotels in Dubrovnik and nearby areas. They are looking for cooks, waiters, chambermaids, pool attendants, and laundry staff, offering salaries ranging from EUR1,000 to EUR1,300 with free accommodation and meals. Filipinos are known for their professionalism, and many are rehired every season.
