Milling machinists and metal turners — explicitly including CNC-Fräser and CNC-Dreher — are nationwide shortage occupations #19 and #20 for 2026. Filipino CNC machinists from export-electronics, aerospace and automotive suppliers are the supply; we test them on the machine in Manila and screen controls to your shop.
Austria's precision-engineering and machinery sector lists machinists every year; the Philippines' export-electronics, aerospace and automotive suppliers train CNC machinists who program and set up, not just operate. For Austria we source setter-programmers at NC III level with two or more years on Siemens, Fanuc or Heidenhain controls.
Milling and turning tasks on CNC machines at Prime Search's Makati workshop — set-up, offsets, a program edit, a toleranced part — plus measuring and drawing reading; controls screened to your shop.
The route is the Rot-Weiß-Rot card for skilled workers in shortage occupations: completed vocational training in the occupation, a job offer, at least 55 of 90 points, pay at collective-agreement level — no separate minimum — and a decision within eight weeks. Where the candidate's Philippine qualification is in the BMWET Pre-Check register, the AMS individual assessment of the training can be waived.
German is not a legal condition of the card, but it earns points (A1, A2, B1) and decides how fast a worker becomes productive; we prepare candidates in Manila on request — A2 for workshop roles, B1 for customer-facing work.
Recruitment runs through our own DMW-licensed agency, Prime Search Manpower Agency Inc. in Makati (licence DMW-027-LB-11182024): your company is accredited at the Migrant Workers Office with jurisdiction for Austria, the job order is registered with the DMW, and every worker leaves Manila with a verified contract, medical clearance, pre-departure orientation and an Overseas Employment Certificate. The employer is always your company, directly.
Everything here is subject to the Fachkräfteverordnung in force, the AMS assessment and Austrian residence and labour law.
We present setter-programmers; pure operators rarely meet the qualification level the card and the register need.
Rarer than Fanuc; screened specifically where you require it.
Two to four weeks to a tested shortlist; three to five months to arrival.
General information for employers, not legal or migration advice. Rules change; we re-verify before each hire.