The Philippines and Finland are expanding cooperation to create more employment opportunities for Filipinos, strengthen skills training, and improve protection for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The partnership was discussed during a courtesy call by Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen on Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on Thursday, where both sides explored ways to prepare more Filipinos for jobs in high-demand and emerging industries.
Among the sectors identified were renewable energy, maritime technology, artificial intelligence, and other industries expected to generate more employment in the coming years.
The two officials also discussed scholarship, training, and exchange programs that would allow Filipino workers to gain specialized skills while giving trainers and students the opportunity to learn from Finland’s vocational education system.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is also interested in learning from Finland’s labor migration model, which focuses on matching skilled foreign workers with employers while promoting ethical recruitment, faster processing of applications, and stronger protection for migrant workers.
Tolentino highlighted the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to prepare workers for green jobs through the Philippine Green Jobs Act and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s Green TVET program.
He also cited possible areas of cooperation in renewable energy, waste management, and other sustainable industries.
The labor department likewise thanked Finland for supporting the ongoing negotiations for the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement, where DOLE is leading discussions on labor standards, workers’ rights, and decent work.
DOLE data showed that 1,299 newly hired Filipino workers were deployed to Finland from 2024 to April 2026, mostly for jobs in healthcare, hospitality, skilled trades, and other occupations experiencing labor shortages.
The number of Filipinos living in Finland has also grown significantly, reaching about 12,770 from just 302 in 2016.
At present, 39 Finnish companies operate in the Philippines across various industries.
