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JEWELER and a therapist planning to set up their own
businesses in the world’s romance capital were the first
two Filipinos given “competence cards” by the French
Embassy in Manila as part of its scheme to open its
borders to more skilled and talented Filipinos to work
there.
French
Ambassador to Manila Gerard Chesnel said an initial 100
“competence cards” will be issued to Filipinos qualified
to work in France while his government awaits the
Philippines’ response to the proposed bilateral labor
agreement.
The
competence cards issued to the first two qualified
Filipinos provide, among others, a three-year visa, work
permit, as well as consent to bring along the
cardholders’ family to France.
“We are
still waiting for an answer from the Philippine
government. But it is not necessary to put in force the
new policy,” said Chesnel in a press briefing at the
Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines
in Makati City. Chesnel represents France’s presidency
in the European Union this year.
“We
would like more Filipinos in France. We would like
talented Filipinos… . I’ve been asked to deliver an
initial 100 cards,” he said. Chesnel said the competence
cards will also prioritize those in the health-care
fields such as nurses, caregivers and nursing assistants
to elder people. France also welcomes more students and
information-technology professionals.
He
emphasized that the French government encourages legal
migration, yet does not want to be accused of
aggravating the brain drain in developing countries like
the Philippines. |
