MANILA - The Department of Migrant Workers has improved its bilateral labor relations with Finland by inking a pact that aims to ensure "fair, ethical, and sustainable working conditions" for Filipino skilled workers in the European country.  

Department of Migrant Workers Sec. Hans Leo Cacdac and Finland’s Economic Affairs and Employment Minister Arto Olavi Satonen signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on the Mobility of Filipino Specialists and Skilled Workers to Finland on Thursday.  

The agreement also enhances cooperation between the two nations with the forming of a committee composed of Philippine government officials and their Finnish counterparts. 

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Cacdac noted that the experience of thousands of OFWs with Finnish employers "has always been excellent" and "very harmonious".

 "We were brought together by Filipino workers and Finnish employers to enhance areas of labor mobility, employment, recruitment, integration of workers, and also enhancing on ways in which we could make recruitment more transparent, sustainable and ethical," the DMW chief said in a press conference.  

For his part, Satonen said there are only 2,000 Filipino workers in Finland and they have been "satisfied" with their working performance.

 Finland is eyeing to boost hiring of Filipinos specialists in the sectors of healthcare, service, tourism, and information technology.

 "For Finland it's important that for those workers who would like to come with their families, we try to help to find a work for the spouses as well," the Finnish official said, noting Finland's lack of labor force. 

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Wages are pegged at €1,600 per month at the minimum and averaging at €3,500 per month. 

 In Philippine peso, this translates to around P96,000 to P211,000. 

 Around 5,000 - 6,000 Filipinos are currently residing in Finland, most of them are OFWs, according to Cacdac.