SKLLED WORKERS AVAILABLE

A vast range of professionals and trades workers are available and the list below is not at all complete, it tends to reflect the areas where Visa Workforce has focused, or otherwise had repeated demand. Many applicants have already worked abroad, while others (eg cad engineers) work on international projects from Philippines base, and others (accountants, IT etc) work for large multinational companies with branches in the Philippines.

There are some sectors where Filipino workers excel and others where skills and the right type of experience are lacking. There are sectors where workers tend to have stronger English skills and others where English skills are not up to standard. Hence first-hand knowledge of the Philippines workforce is critical in order to add value in the recruitment process. Visa Workforce and Global Skilled Workforce provide that knowledge and familiarity.

The following categories provide a guide. We welcome enquiries for any other occupation not listed.

ACCOUNTANTS – a range of public practice and industry based accountants – superior candidates have worked for large multi international firms and can use SAP, JDE etc. CPA qualifications are available.

ARCHITECTS – qualified architects are available and many are happy to work in drafting roles. Australian architect firms can be hesitant to employ overseas architects but our candidates already have, in many instances, exposure to international standards and building methods, and can adapt quickly. Some architects work as structural/design cad engineers.

AUTO MECHANICS – Mechanics working abroad gain skills in BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar and other luxury vehicles as well as Kia, Mazda, Toyota etc. Underlying qualifications usually are vocational (TAFE type), or college (uni) based education in automotive technology. Philippines based mechanics are considered only if they have experience in large dealership such as Toyota, Honda, Ford, Mitsubishi etc.

AUTO SPRAY PAINTERS – there are vast number of new passenger vehicles, SUV's etc in the Philippines and accordingly the skills of painters are good. In the Philippines painters tend to do more of the "bog" work done by panel beaters in Australia. Superior painters have worked in prestigious workshops in the middle east on BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar etc as well as a wide range of Lexus, American Ford etc.

BAKERS & PASTRY CHEFS – candidates have experience worldwide as well as in bakeries and pastry shops in the Philippines and of course in big hotels across the Philippines. Others have been sea based on cruise ships around the world, catering to international cuisines. Cake and pastries shops are plentiful in the Philippines.

BUTCHERS/MEATWORKERS – ranging from livestock to poultry, from slaughterhouses to dressing, there are many suitable applicants available. Pork, beef and chicken are plentiful in the Philippines while lamb is non-existent. but many skills are transferable. Produce is not only destined for domestic consumption but obviously for the large number of 4 and 5 star hotels across the country.

BUILDERS – the amount of high rise building in the Philippines is phenomenal, for both commercial and residential. As well there are many new residential subdivisions in the major cities with modern housing replacing the old. Hence a large number of builders ranging from formworkers, steel fixers, engineers and fitout workers are available. Some of these skills are covered elsewhere in this section.

CABINET MAKERS – cabinet making ranges from "assembly" type to quality manufacture and installation. Candidates with experience abroad tend to be versatile without compromising quality of cabinet making. Materials in use range from melamine and softwoods, to mahogany and (local hardwood) narra. Some workers are carvers and custom furniture makers which doesn’t necessarily suit some Australian cabinet shops.

CAD ENGINEERS – the Philippines an offers a large pool of quality cad personnel who work across design, layout, detailing/checking, modeling, prep for fabrication etc principally using Autocad, Tekla/X-steel, Staad, Solidworks, Microstation. Qualifications tend to be civil or mechanical (electrical also available) but they can readily switch disciplines if they have the underlying software skills. Many cad operators work on international projects (for the USA, middle-east, Japan, Africa, Australia etc) from a Philippines base, while others go abroad. Projects usually cover high rise, heavy industry & petro chemical, fabrication drawings and horizontal civil works. There are very few working solely in mining services.

CARPENTERS – may be "rough" (structural) or “finishing” carpenters, many are versatile and include furniture making in their resume. The standout carpenters are those who have built two storey timber framed houses in Japan (on 3 yr contracts) in a style not unlike Australia. They also do windows, doors, wall paneling (gypsum board) and some cabinet installations. They come from diverse backgrounds and many are university graduates before undergoing the intensive training for Japan. Formwork carpenters are readily available in the Philippines. Housing carpenters who have been limited to Philippines experience may not always be suitable.

CHEFS – may be university or trade qualified, of have learned through on the job training. Sous chefs, and chefs de partie are available and are increasingly be sought overseas in the US and Canada. Experience varies from large hotels and maritime service (cruise ships) where there is a growing emphasis on international cuisines.

CNC – our preferred candidates usually hold qualifications in Mechanical Engineering or Machine Shop Technology although they are hands on technicians. Skills including programming, set-up and precision operation, some others tend to be operators only. They are well versed in milling machines, lathes and a host of other machines. Superior candidates have some CAD skills and can follow the process from design through to production.

ELECTRICIANS – to date Visa Workforce has not placed electricians due to the very restrictive licensing requirements in Australia. In some cases electrical workers are qualified engineers but at the other end of the spectrum some general builders carry out wiring. Each applicant should be assessed by the appropriate office in Australia before a visa application could be pursued.

ELECTRONICS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS – degree qualified applicants are plentiful, but work experience varies greatly. Qualified applicants tend to be versatile and have work experience across IT related fields, communications (especially mobile phone systems), power generation and other heavy industry, high volume production plants, control systems like railways and other transport, radio and telephone systems, CCTV etc.

ENGINEERS – CIVIL, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL – the number of Filipino engineers deployed around the world is amazing and a large number of universities continue to generate more graduates. Civil engineers excel in horizontal (highways, land development, drainage) and vertical works (esp high rise) domestically and abroad, and particularly in the middle east. Mechanical engineers are prevalent in oil and gas and related heavy industries, both on and off shore. A large number of engineers with civil and mechanical qualifications specialise in cad design/drafting, while others share office and site duties. Electrical and Electronics engineers are also prevalent and work in a range of LV/HV/Electronics and frequently in the power generation sector with mechanical engineers.

FESA – in Manila alone there are many fire and emergency facilities manned by qualified and very well experienced personnel. including nursing degree qualified paramedics, dealing with a very high prevalence of fires and explosions, shootings, road accidents and general health emergencies.

FITTERS - a diverse range of skills are available – ranging from fixed plant, structural, mobile and ancillary plant, fitters working on production line equipment including bottling plants, sugar mills, packaging, minerals processing, materials handling equipment, power stations, oil and gas (on shore and off shore), pipe fitters etc. Many candidates have mechanical engineering qualifications or undergraduate studies.

HAIRDRESSERS – hairdressers are plentiful, and some are well travelled. To date Visa Workforce has not placed hairdressers into Australia, in spite of a shortage, as the minimum salary payable to 457 visa workers makes the viability questionable, in Australia.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT (DIESEL) MECHANICS – Caterpillar and Komatsu equipment is prevalent in the Philippines, associated with works on residential subdivision, commercial developments, highways, roads and dams, and mining. Some HE Mechanics have worked overseas in quarries, tunneling and other significant infrastructure projects. The quality of applicants varies and should be closely screened. Qualifications range from OJT to formal technical institutes and college (uni) qualifications ,in related disciplines. Many workers also work on a range of associated equipment including cranes, mixers, compressors and pumps, forklifts, light vehicles etc so they can be versatile.

IT – as diverse as IT is, the range of qualified and experienced candidates are similarly diverse. Systems analysts, design engineers, support engineers and network administrators, troubleshooters and a range of workers in communications related fields. Mobile communications in the Philippines are very well developed and there are many, many people working in this sector.

GEOLOGISTS – competent mine geologists are few in number, with more going into Exploration and getting jobs throughout south east Asia where they have experience in early stages of exploration and development of base and precious metals projects. Skills range from reconnaissance, geophysics and geochem, drilling and core logging, mapping, using computer data bases and softwares like Mapinfo, Micromine, Surpac etc.

MASONS – the title can be misleading as there are numerous skills that could be included whether it be in fabrication vs installation, building stone vs marble/granite for domestic and commercial applications. Many workers in this sector have experience in the middle east where marble and granite is very popular in hotels, malls, through to palaces and high end residences. One of the major deficiencies among Filipino masons is the standard of English language.

MEDICAL – to date Visa Workforce has not undertaken medical placements. Filipino nurses tend to gravitate in large number towards USA and Canada where their qualifications are accepted. All have bachelor’s degrees, some are double qualified, and they have excellent temperament and nature for nursing and care giving. A range of other medico’s including GP’s and dentists are increasingly getting work around the world but again Australia has exceptionally high qualifying criteria.

MACHINE OPERATORS (METAL) – see CNC for computer controlled machines. There are many fabrication and repair workshops in the Philippines, operating a range of conventional machines for pressing, bending, shearing and rolling etc and even more commonly using lathes, grinders and boring machines to produce auto parts, tools and fixtures, precision spares for aeronautical, and other a vast range of other equipment. There are also many, many operators of CNC and conventional machines in high volume production of semi conductor and computer components, plastic injection moulds etc which are not necessarily what Australian workshops are looking for.

MINING INDUSTRY PERSONNEL – the industry in the Philippines is under developed. Few suitable professionals remain as the industry tries to rebuild. There are some mines producing gold, copper, nickel and coal. Some professionals and other workers (eg underground miners) have gone overseas to work in tunneling, quarrying etc and there are a number of Filipino geologists working domestically and elsewhere in SE Asia. The next best represented minerals profession are metallurgists and chemical engineers. A range of drillers and maintenance personnel are available including fitters, boilermakers, machinists, diesel mechanics etc (who also work in civils industry).

PAINTERS – available painters range from “painting and decorating type” to industrial painters. See under "A" for auto painters.

PANEL BEATERS – in the Philippines they vary from small private workshops or are aligned with large motor vehicle dealerships (Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi). Experiences in the middle east are always commendable where they work on luxury vehicles. Panel beaters (called Auto Denters in the Philippines) may be very capable older style with long years experience, or younger workers who excel using modern equipment and techniques. There is a vast and diverse fleet of modern vehicles in the Philippines including Lexus, Volvo, BMW and quality SUV’s and 4WD’s.

PLUMBERS – Philippines “Registered Master Plumber” qualification together with appropriate work history in plumbing field can qualify workers for postings in Australia where registration rules differ by state. There are numerous Filipino plumbers working abroad, performing a range of works including all aspects of water and sanitary services, gas fitting etc. The better plumbers tend to have underlying engineering qualification rather than an apprenticeship.

OPERATORS – this is a very broad title and does not necessarily provide avenues to recruit skilled labour into Australia. Operators range from mobile plant to fixed production plant and manufacturing style workers. Some concessions may be available in regional areas of Australia and individual requests can be considered.

ROOFING INSTALLERS – much of the new roofing in the Philippines is done by sub contract teams which may be problematic for workers providing visa documentation (indeed many trades persons may have this problem and Visa Workforce is well aware of the pit falls). Modern residences in new subdivisions, commercial buildings and malls, are major project areas for the increasingly skilled roofing installers (in sheet metal, tiles, shingles). Some applicants are well educated and can work unsupervised and lead the sub contacts teams.

SHEET METAL WORKERS – workers in sheet metal shops may be versatile or may be restricted to one stage of manufacture (eg fabrication v welding v finishing). Aluminium fabrication tends to be less common, many workers work in stainless steel or mild steel and galvanized plate. Common specialist areas include commercial kitchen equipment, air con ducting, cabinets and other storage receptacles.

SURVEYORS – commonly referred to as geodetic engineers in the Philippines, working with the vast number of civil engineers on infrastructure projects in country and abroad.

TILERS – one of the areas where workers tend to be “all rounders” – laying ceramic tiles, plastering, some stone fabrication, laying marble/granite tiles and benchtops, some may do wall panel fixing and other related tasks. Tile setting experiences range from floors and walls, wet areas, mechanical fixing as well as conventional grouting.

TINTERS – some techniques differ in the Philippines but there are a vast numbers of tinted vehicles. Some tinters have long experience in the trade, but English skills vary. The common tints used are V-Kool, 3-M etc.

WALL PANEL FIXERS – gypsum board is becoming increasingly common in the Philippines, carried out generally by sub contract teams (which can prove problematical for visa documentation). Fixers do not necessarily prove to be expert flushers as sometimes the latter work is done by painters.

WELDERS/FABRICATORS – many young workers in the Philippines aspire to be welders and do short courses before being deployed overseas, which is not ideal. Visa Workforce has access to many quality and experienced welders/fabricators with experience across petro chemical, mining construction, pipelines, high rise and infrastructure building and equipment maintenance. Skills vary, some hold certificates in difficult positions like 6GR and other skills include underwater welding, robotic welding etc. Visa Workforce favours workers who have already worked abroad.

WOOD MACHINISTS – skilled workers vary from turners to operators of cnc machines in cabinet making workshops.