One thousand overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being prioritized by the Israeli government for jobs in their tourism industry by the end of 2019.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz said in his column on the Philippine Daily Inquirer September 17 edition that the initial number of 1,000 Filipino workers will be filling up jobs in hotels and restaurants.
Ambassador Harpaz said they are opening the industry jobs as tourism relations between Israel and the Philippines are flourishing. Israel expects to break tourism records of approximately 40,000 Filipinos visiting Israel, while thousands of Israelis continue to visit the islands of Palawan, Bohol, Boracay, among other world-renowned travel destinations.
Noting the excellent Filipino hospitality, Amb. Harpaz said, “Filipino service and hospitality paved the way for us to open for the first time the hotel and tourism industry to an initial 1,000 Filipino workers by the end of this year.”
The Israeli ambassador also noted how the intent of the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, to launch direct flights from Manila to Tel Aviv and vice versa will boost tourism and trade. Philippine passport holders can visit the Holy Land visa-free.
Amb. Rafael Harpaz revealed to media during a Makati City event on Monday that the Israeli government is opening 2,000 jobs and that 1,000 will be filled by Filipinos.
Israel is prioritizing Filipinos owing to the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
“Our bilateral relations had been laid down by great Filipino leaders: President Manuel Quezon opened the doors of the Philippines to Jews fleeing the Nazi regime in the late 1930s, and under the presidency of Manuel Roxas, the Philippines was the only Asian country in the United Nations General Assembly to vote in favor of the creation of the State of Israel on Nov. 29, 1947. We will always be grateful for these,” wrote Ambassador Rafael Harpaz in his column.
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