RP Consulate holds seminar for club workers

The Philippine Consulate yesterday started holding a series of an orientation seminar designed to familiarize Filipino club workers in the Northern Marianas on ways to deal with their unique situation in the workplace.

“We decided to put forward a seminar on this particular subject because we want to reach out to our countrymen who work in nightclubs since they are in a very different situation,” Consul Julia C. Heidemann said.

Ms. Heidemann said the series of orientation seminars for Filipinos deployed in CNMI’s numerous nightclubs, who are mostly women working as either waitresses or guest relations officers, will be held until all club workers are covered.

She explained that there is a significant difference between being a waitress in a regular restaurant and in a nightclub , especially on the workplace atmosphere and the kinds of customers.

The consul added that they would like to reach out to all Filipino club workers in the Northern Marianas regardless of which establishment they are currently connected with, adding that club owners on the islands have so far expressed cooperation.

“The series of orientation lectures which we propose to be included or given emphasis in the seminar include an outline of what should the workers expect from their employment and what their rights and responsibilities are,” Ms. Heidemann said.

She told an interview that the orientation seminar has been cooked up to reach out to a significant number of club workers who failed to attend the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar required by the Philippine government to all outbound Filipino workers.

“We are doing this to reach out not only to those who have recently arrived but also for those who have been here longer in order to give them a detailed information on what to expect and what they should and should not do while they are on Saipan,” she added.

Ms. Heidemann said the orientation seminar will feature lectures from officials of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the CNMI Department of Labor and Immigration.

“This seminar will hopefully lessen misunderstandings on job qualifications and job assignments because doing waitstaff chores in a nightclub is different from those in a regular restaurant,” she explained.