Addressing a conference organised by the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP) on the recruiting of Filipinos by Croatian employers, Vidiš said that the memorandum is aimed at making the import of foreign workers to Croatia safer and better, without any grey zones.
We would like also to provide for some more reductions of the administrative burden through the extension of the validity of work permits, he told the gathering in Zagreb.
"Under the memorandum, employers will be able to bring in foreign workers and in parallel, there will be a channel between the countries for the Croatian Employment Service to enable the transfer of the workforce," he said.
Currently, there are almost 10,000 Filipino workers in Croatia, and longer work permits will provide them with a better opportunity for integration.
HUP director Irena Weber said that the purpose of today's conference is to give an insight into the problems bothering both employers and workers and also to see to it that the issuance of work permits for Filipinos is expedited.
Filipino workers have proven to be very diligent employees, and they are mainly hired in tourism, hospitality and commerce, she added.
Weber said that fluctuation among Filipino workers is lower in comparison to other foreign workers. Filipinos stay longer in the companies that hire them and easily establish communication and connections with employers, Weber added.
The honorary consul of the Philippines in Croatia, Davor Štern, warned about long periods for the issuance of visas and work permits for Filipino workers.
Hans Leo Cacdac, the current secretary of the Filipino Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), told the gathering that Croatia's labour market is attractive for his compatriots because of the amount of the pay and the cohabitation of foreign workers and locals.