Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan (left) discussed labor trends with Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen (right), focusing on Finland’s demand for skilled professionals, including healthcare workers. Picture courtesy: DMW.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) highlighted opportunities for overseas Filipino workers  in Finland during the 2025 Overseas Labor Market Forum held Thursday in Mandaluyong City.

Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan discussed labor trends with Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen, focusing on Finland’s demand for skilled professionals, including healthcare workers. Finland also offers free language courses to help overseas Filipino workers integrate successfully into the workforce, emphasizing fair and ethical recruitment practices.

The forum, attended by over 200 participants, explored partnerships with other countries, including Austria, Japan, Canada, and Singapore, which also provide avenues for Filipino workers in healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled labor sectors.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reiterated the department’s commitment to ethical recruitment and worker protection, ensuring overseas Filipino workers thrive globally while maintaining their rights and welfare. He emphasized that migration should remain a choice, not a necessity.

The event underscores the Philippines’ dedication to fostering international collaboration and creating sustainable pathways for OFWs to succeed abroad while strengthening their role in the global workforce.

Finland falling behind

ScandAsia has previously reported that Finland is falling behind in attracting foreign workers from Asia.

With an unemployment rate at over 8 percent, Finland has one of the highest rates among EU member states. This calls for more foreign workers to help out in various sectors, like the social and health sector.

Many Filipinos are already working in the Finnish healthcare sector, but Markku Sippola, a senior lecturer at the University of Helsinki, says to Yle that Finland is falling behind other countries.

“It will soon become evident that Japan and China, which have never taken in many immigrants, are competing for these same Vietnamese and Filipino caregivers.”

 

Source: Philippine News Agency