Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760511222558cropped-spencer-davis-fWtJvFqyUQQ-unsplash.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Dubrovnik, Croatia. Spencer Davis, Unsplash</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Croatia is offering high-paying and high-quality jobs for Filipino workers as the recruitment phase begins for the government-to-government (G2G) hiring agreement between Manila and Zagreb.</p><p>This was announced by both Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac and Croatia&#x27;s State Secretary for Labor Ivan Vidis during a joint press briefing in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday</p><p>Vidis is visiting the Philippines with a high-level delegation, including Foreign Affairs Minister Gordan Radman.</p><p>Cacdac said the current hiring program is already in &quot;full gear,&quot; adding that the first batch is set to be recruited in the next few days.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/12/us-bill-to-keep-call-centers-in-america-a-clear-threat-to-bpos-in-ph-group-1735">US bill to &#x27;keep&#x27; call centers in America a &#x27;clear threat&#x27; to BPOs in PH: group</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>UP TO 40,000 JOBS NEEDED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Croatia&#x27;s fast-growing economy has created strong demand for skilled labor, particularly in tourism, construction, and healthcare, Vidis said, noting that the country will need 30,000 to 40,000 jobs.</p><p>He added that when local labor cannot meet demand, Croatia is &quot;extremely happy&quot; to welcome Filipino workers, who are valued for their professionalism and adaptability.</p><p>&quot;Without the quality work that your citizens are providing, it would be very difficult for us,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Salaries are definitely going to continue to rise.&quot;</p><p>Vidis noted that Croatia is currently the second-fastest-growing economy in the European Union, adding that the average net salary in the country is around P97,000. </p><p>“We can provide well-paid and quality work for your citizens,” he said. “This is a bridge between our nations.” </p><p>Vidis said the pilot phase will focus on tourism, one of Croatia’s strongest industries, noting that &quot;tourism is booming in Croatia.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Just in this pilot project, our most serious hotels initially asked for 1,000 applicants, and we managed to do 300 in this short time period because we also wanted to meet these people in person,&quot; he said.</p><p>He added that expansion to construction, healthcare, and the processing industry will follow as the program matures.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PROTECTION FOR FILIPINO WORKERS, GUIDELINES</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Cacdac emphasized that all recruitment will take place under the G2G framework, ensuring full protection for Filipino workers.</p><p>&quot;Everything has to go through certain formalities that would constitute safe, ethical, and protective recruitment for our workers,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Both nations guarantee not just safe, ethical recruitment, but also make sure that employer-employee relations are harmonious.&quot;</p><p>He said the program’s design includes proper grievance mechanisms and &quot;strong partnership and commitment on both sides to protect workers.&quot;</p><p>Vidis also assured applicants that no recruitment fees will be collected from workers.</p><p>&quot;Under our law, you don’t charge any employees regardless of the contract,” he said. “Nobody is allowed to charge employees for any type of fees. It all has to be covered by the employer.”</p><p>He also stressed that Croatia treats all legal workers equally.</p><p>“When somebody starts working in Croatia through the legal pathway, we don’t see Croatian workers or Filipino workers. To us, they’re all workers who have their rights and obligations,” Vidis said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RESIDENCY, CITIZENSHIP FOR LONG-TERM WORKERS<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Vidis described Filipino workers as “a very good fit” for Croatian society. </p><p>&quot;Filipino workers are extremely talented when it comes to languages. I’ve never seen any other nation so talented after Croats,” he said.</p><p>He said Filipinos’ family- and faith-centered culture also helps them integrate easily in a predominantly Catholic country.</p><p>“People are very happy to have Filipinos in Croatia,” Vidis added. “People from the Philippines have a special place in our hearts.”</p><p>Vidis confirmed that residency or citizenship is possible for long-term workers who meet certain conditions.</p><p>“Of course, there are some preconditions,” he said. “It takes some time to live and work in Croatia, but of course, that’s an option too.”</p><p>He described Croatia as “one of the safest countries in the world,” adding that it offers good salaries, pristine nature, and a welcoming environment.</p><p>“You can go anywhere, anytime. Nothing will happen to you,” he said. “The material conditions are not bad … It’s not a bad place to live.”</p><p>Cacdac said the cooperation between the Philippines and Croatia represents a shared commitment to ethical migration and worker protection.</p><p>“This is all in the context of a very strong partnership and commitment on both sides … to protect workers and maintain harmonious relations between OFWs and their Croatian employers,” he said. </p><p>Vidis agreed, calling the partnership a bridge of friendship and opportunity.</p><p>“Even though we are geographically far away, when it comes to values, work ethics, and mentality, we are quite similar,” he said. “This is why Filipinos are a very good fit to our Croatian society.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER NEWS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4K7BfyLwFM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The average net salary in Croatia is around P97,000, State Secretary for Labor Ivan Vidis said.</p>

The average net salary in Croatia is around P97,000, State Secretary for Labor Ivan Vidis said.

Croatia offers high-paying jobs to Filipinos as G2G hiring program kicks off

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Croatia offers high-paying jobs to Filipinos as G2G hiring program kicks off

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 15, 2025 02:54 PM PHT

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Philippines

Croatia

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