THE FINNISH ambassador revealed plans to expand its recruitment footprint to regions outside of Manila, potentially including Davao.
Ambassador of Finland to the Philippines Saija Nurminen shared this in an interview with local reporters after the Breaking Barriers: Diplomatic and Dabawenya Leaders Shaping the Future at Holy Cross of Davao College on June 24.
“We’ve had one job fair in November in Manila, and the plan is in the future to also have similar job fairs in other parts of the Philippines,” she said.
Around 1,200 aspiring overseas Filipino workers attended the Finland Job Fair at Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City last December 2025, where 800 positions were available across various skilled sectors, as part of the Philippines–Finland Friendship Week.
“I wouldn’t see that, you know, totally impossible that there would, one day, also be a job fair in Davao,” she added.
While specific quotas for workers from Mindanao are not yet established, Finland is looking to build on the success of its initial job fair held in Manila.
The ambassador said future provincial job fairs will directly connect Finnish employers with local job seekers.
“Finnish companies that need employment would come to show what they have to offer, and then it’s, of course, for the Filipino job seekers to see whether that is the right fit for them,” she said.
Addressing concerns regarding the safety and welfare of Filipino migrant workers, particularly women, the Ambassador emphasized that safety protocols are already legally anchored.
Finland and the Philippines signed a Joint Declaration of Intent in January 2025, which strictly mandates ethical recruitment practices rooted in human rights and the rule of law.
The Department of Migrant Workers and Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment are committed to ensuring fair, ethical, and sustainable working conditions for skilled Filipino workers in Finland.
Sustainable labor mobility, rights and welfare protection of Filipino workers, combatting issues of exploitation and abuse in the international recruitment process, supporting employment opportunities for Filipino workers, and exploring the potential for a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further strengthen labor mobility frameworks, are among the key areas of cooperation in the joint declaration.
“I know that the Philippines always says that they have gold star workers. Well, I can assure you that we have a gold star labor market when it comes to regulations and standards,” the Ambassador stated, assuring applicants workplace protections.
