Module 6 country cozy-europe

PRE-EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR (PEOS ONLINE)

MODULE 6: GET COUNTRY COZY

AMERICAS AND EUROPE

Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) Online - powered by JobStreet.comModule 6: GET COUNTRY COZY-- What do I need to know about my overseas employer’s country?

Get Country Cozy!

Continue to keep your options open; get to know more about the country you are interested in.

Know the following:

Visa FeeMedical Examination FeeAirfareClimateFoodDress codeGeneral lifestyleFlying time from the PhilippinesMajor religionCurrencyImmigration and labor laws Presence of Philippine Embassy or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)


Europe

The most common destinations for temporary and seasonal workers are the United Kingdom and Ireland where you can find jobs in bars and restaurants. But for Filipinos, the top destination in Europe is Italy.

28 European countries are uniquely united together, economically and politically, forming the European Union. Euro is the single currency used among the member-states. UK however uses its own currency, the Pound.

The cost of living in Switzerland and UK is among the highest in the world.

Non-residents / foreign workers are required to have a work permit for long-term jobs. If caught working illegally, you can be fined or even deported and barred from the country.


Europe

ITALY

Among the European countries, Italy is the top destination for Overseas Filipino Workers. The approximate flying time from the Philippines is about 21 hours. The capital city is Rome. The currency is Euro.

Italy has 4 seasons. It is varied warm and humid towards the coast, and wet, cold and snowy in the higher ground and valleys.

Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in the country.

Staple food are meats, fish, pasta, and breads.

Finding jobs in Italy is difficult because unemployment is very high. Being able to speak good, if not fluent, Italian combined with speaking English fluently is an advantage in getting a job.

*For more details, visit www.owwa.gov.ph

http://www.owwa.gov.ph/


EuropeUNITED KINGDOM

1£=US$1.711US$=PHP43.66(as of July 2014)

Let us see how much your take home pay will be at the end of the day.


North America

The United States of America and Canada are in the continent of North America.

The flying time from the Philippines to Los Angeles and Vancouver in Canada is about 12 hours while flying time directly from the Philippines to Vancouver is almost 15 hours and another 4 hours from Vancouver to Toronto.

The time difference between Manila and Los Angeles as well as Vancouver is -15 hours, while Toronto and New York are 12 hours behind Manila.

Both countries have 4 seasons, but Canadian winters can be very harsh.

Religious freedom is guaranteed and a very liberal lifestyle is tolerated. Though English is the official language of Canada, there are some provinces especially Quebec, where French is the mother tongue.


North America

The currency in USA is the US dollar, and in Canada the Canadian dollar.

Meats and fish are the staple food in these countries.

Canada has two Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO):POLO-Vancouver which covers the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territory and Yukon

POLO-Toronto covering the provinces of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Nunavut.

*For more details, visit www.owwa.gov.ph

http://www.owwa.gov.ph/


North AmericaNewfoundland & Labrador, CANADA

1 CAD = US$ 0.9216051 CAD = PHP 40.1809

(as of July 2014)



North America

Ontario, CANADA

1 CAD = US$ 0.9216051 CAD = PHP 40.1809

(as of July 2014)



North AmericaSaskatchewan, CANADA

1 CAD = US$ 0.9216051 CAD = PHP 40.1809(as of July 2014)



North AmericaToronto, CANADA

1 CAD = US$ 0.9216051 CAD = PHP 40.1809

(as of July 2014)



Nowadays, communicating with family members, relatives and friends is easier with the advancements in communications technology. Text messaging, email and video and video calling through Skype and Viber are within reach and are relatively cheaper than the traditional telephone calls. Social networking sites and facilities such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram likewise allow individuals to connect and share photos and documents online with other people in an instant.

PAUSE BEFORE YOU POST: SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE

These technologies, specially social networking sites could nonetheless pose a threat to one’s privacy and security. Some countries may have restrictive policies on internet usage, or punish certain acts that are committed over the cyberspace, such as accessing pornographic sites, damaging one’s reputation through social media, and visiting sites that may compromise national security, which are not necessarily criminal offenses in the Philippines.



Some people over-share personal information or are too open with certain personal information and feelings, as well as pictures, without regard to negative consequences. This may lead to a potentially damaged online reputation, identity theft, and loss of employment. A migrant worker was reportedly dismissed from work due to messages against race and religion that were posted on social media, which were considered by the employer as offensive to the host country and violative of established company values and regulations.

Remember, when you work overseas, you are expected to act according to the norms and give your utmost respect to your host country’s laws and regulations, and cultural and religious beliefs.


Take a look at the following pointers that you can keep in mind before sharing your thoughts or mementos online:

1) Consider setting your privacy control to a limit, for instance, ‘to your friends only’. Add only your trusted and closest friends as “friends”.

2) Avoid accepting your boss as friend in social networking sites or follow his social account. As much as possible, keep your personal matters and work completely separate.

3) Do not use social media as venue to express complaints about work. Anything you may post online maybe taken against you. Use available company grievance machinery and other government mechanisms to report violation of rights and contractual breaches.


4) Never criticize or ridicule the culture, traditions, and religious beliefs of your host country and of other countries, including characteristics or traits of its peoples that you may find different from your own.

5) Do not upload obscene, illicit or otherwise incriminating photos of you or of other people.

6) Do not engage in online debates and discussions on the political situation and religious issues.


- END OF MODULE 6 -

Education

Module 6 country cozy-europe