One of the best moves he has made so far was to meet with OFWs who by all rights should be back home practicing their profession for the simple reason that they are badly needed there. Or at the very least, should be working in other places abroad where their education and skills are recognized and put to good use.
One of such meetings happened two weeks ago, when Labatt Jolly met with our nurses and midwives and encouraged them to either spread their wings further afield or fly back home, where thousands of jobs are being opened up for them.
Unknown to many of us, there is this program by the Department of Health where nurses are sent to barangays where their services are badly needed, and for which they are offered a year-long contract at "competitive" salaries.
Not only will this hone the nurses' skills, it will also give them the confidence and self-worth which they rarely get to feel when forced to take up domestic work abroad.
Labatt Jolly told them about this program, and more. He advised those who are inclined to look at other opportunities abroad to consider the nursing jobs that they could apply for in countries like Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Middle East.
But he didn't stop there. He also encouraged them to unite, form a group and look at ways to enhance their skills so they could boost their chances of getting the coveted jobs. This includes lobbying for another licensure examination to be held here next year.
Next on his agenda is to help the midwives, who because of their short, two-year college education, are deemed unqualified for most jobs abroad in their chosen field.
But not all is lost for them, as they could now go home and supervise their own birthing clinics, which given the country's ever-booming population, would always be well-patronized.
As this requires the midwife-proprietor to be a licensed practitioner, Labatt Jolly is also helping the midwives to press for another licensure examination to be held here, seven years after a joint qualifying test with nurses was brought to HK.
Need help raising the estimated capital of around Php300,000 for the lying-in clinics? Have no qualms, as Labatt Jolly is helping look for possible government help, either in the form of a loan or subsidy.
Next in line are the teachers, who by the sheer necessity brought about the expanded Kto12 curriculum, were the first to be enticed to go back home and return to their calling.
Under the "Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma'am/Sir" program joint jointly run by the Departments of Labor and Education, teachers who working as OFWs abroad are promised a salary that is equal, or even higher, than what they are currently earning.
This is the program Labatt Jolly is most familiar with, as he was with DoLE's reintegration center just before he was sent back here to run the labor office.
As with the nurses and midwives, teachers are expected to be of a certain degree of proficiency or skill to qualify for this program.
But trust Jolly to be a step ahead in this direction. Already, he has set a meeting with the teachers next month so they can discuss how to meet the requirements, including availing of a free online tutorial meant to update and upgrade their skills and knowhow.
More than mere words, such acts by our new labor attache show that sincerity and hard work could go a long way toward helping our migrant workers create a better future for themselves.
We just need to make them dream again.
