ZAGREB, June 21, 2019 - The leader of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters (PASEI), Elsa U. Villa, has told the Zagreb-based Jutarnji List daily that they have explored the labour market and found out that Croatia is in need of workers, while the Philippines can satisfy that need.

At the start of this year we were informed that Croatia needed some 2,000 workers, and the needs have been rising since then, Villa was quoted as saying in an article published on Friday.

She said that the association could ensure the hiring of workers of various professions and occupations.

In this context, she said that the Filipinos would be ready to work in the tourism and hospitality industry as well as in agriculture and construction.

She explained that the minimum acceptable monthly salary for a lower-educated Filipino may be 450 euro plus the coverage of the accommodation and food costs.

Filipino job-seekers with a higher education expect the monthly salaries from 700 euro and up.

The procedure for issuance of work permits runs smoothly, however, the problem occurs with the issuance of visas since Croatia has no embassy in Manila, she said.

Croatia is ready to import Bangladeshi workers, according to information released after talks on this matter between the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the Netherlands, Sheikh Mohammed Belal, and Assistant Croatian Labour Minister Dražen Opalić.

The Bangladeshi embassy in The Hague has stated that after the talks held in Zagreb, Opalić announced that Croatia would soon forward to Bangladesh a draft memorandum of understanding on this topic, the Zagreb-based Večernji List reported on Friday.

The talks revolved about doctors, nurses, IT specialists, as well as workers in the tourism and construction industries being on demand in Croatia.

The labour and pension system ministry confirmed for the Vecernji List information about the meeting between the assistant minister and the ambassador.

The ministry permanently follows the situation on the labour market to address the challenges considering the demand for labour force, however Minister Marko Pavić underscores that that government's priority is to ensure the hiring of the domestic labour force, the ministry told the daily.

More news about employment in Croatia can be found in the Business section.

ZAGREB, April 12, 2019 - Defence Minister Damir Krstičević on Thursday met with his counterparts, Delfin Lorenzana of the Philippines and Levan Izoria of Georgia, during the Adriatic Sea Defense & Aerospace Exhibition and Conference (ASDA) in Split.

Krstičević and the Philippine minister confirmed good and friendly relations between the two countries and they discussed the prospects of further intensifying bilateral defence cooperation and current global and regional security challenges, the ministry said in a press release.

Krstičević informed Lorenzana of the Croatian ministry's current activities through which Croatia contributes to NATO, the UN and the EU in maintaining global security.

They signed a memorandum of understanding on defence between the Philippines and Croatia, the press release said.

The talks with Georgian Minister Izoria pointed out good bilateral and friendly relations between these two countries and the two ministers expressed their wish for cooperation to continue. The ministers discussed the security situation and challenges in Southeast Europe and the South Caucasus as well as the continuation of cooperation in building Georgia's defence capability and preparations for full NATO membership.

Minister Krstičević welcomed Georgia's reforms that have been implemented in accordance with Euro-Atlantic aspirations and underscored that Croatia is open to cooperation with regard to transferring Croatia's experiences to Georgia on its pathway to NATO and the EU.

Minister Izoria thanked Croatia for its contribution in developing Georgia's defence capabilities with Georgian soldiers participating in NATO courses in English as well as officers' training in the field of intelligence. The ministers had the opportunity to meet to Georgian officers attending training courses in Croatia.

The two ministers signed a joint statement symbolising their dedication to strengthening the good bilateral relations.

The Philippine and Georgian delegations attending ASDA conducted meetings with several Croatian defence industry companies, the ministry said in its press release.

More defence sector news can be found in the Politics section.