Overseas
Filipino Workers
|
The term Overseas Filipino Workers or
OFWs was officially adopted under the Ramos Administration to give recognition to millions
of Filipinos who sacrifice by working in other countries out of a desire to earn better
wages. |
 |
The change in nomenclature from
Overseas Contract Workers - replacing the 'Contract' with 'Filipino' - honors these
men and women by pledging the Philippine government's commitment to their welfare wherever
they may be, and removing the pre-condition of possession of contract in order for
Philippine consulates to come to their aid. Under the Migrant Workers and Overseas
Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act 8042), the government enacted a framework to promote
the welfare of OFWs and identified concrete programs to support them in their difficulties
abroad.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas
(2000) report that: "Of the 7.29 million overseas Filipinos, roughly 2.98 million are
overseas Filipino workers, 2.37 million are permanent residents, and 1.94 million are
classified as undocumented. The top 5 countries of destination for overseas Filipino
workers are the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Italy. For the
emigrants or permanent residents (including fiancées/spouses of foreign nationals), the
United States of America, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom are
major destination countries."
According to the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas, the OFWs remitted some $1.96 billions during the first quarter of 2002 (Batino,
2002). This figure is up from last year's $1.43 billions. The Central Bank Governor,
Rafael Buenaventura reportedly noted that this contribution by OFWs has helped stabilize
the peso at around P49 to P50 to the US dollar. The remittances also contributed to the
4.9% GNP growth posted in the first quarter. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has called
OFWs as a new breed of economic investors to the country.
Nothing comes to mind more quickly
than OFWs to represent the travails of the Philippine economy and the enormity of the task
of governing and looking after the welfare of millions of inhabitants, both inside and
outside the archipelago. In the face of economic crisis and government inability to
provide adequate protection all the time, OFWs show bravery by risking detachment from
their families and lives in pursuit of decent wages. The country calls them heroes for
their effort to prop up the economy through the continued inflow of hard currencies.
Each year, the country celebrates December as the Month of Overseas Filipino Workers.
|
Other Facts and Figures on Overseas Filipino Workers |
|
8 billion
dollars |
average
annual remittance of OFWS to the Philippines |
|
over 7
million |
estimated
number of Filipinos worldwide |
|
869.12
million pesos |
donations
sent by overseas Filipino groups from 1990-1999 |
|
250
dollars |
average
monthly salary of OFWs working as maids in Singapore |
|
200,000 |
estimated
number of Filipinos working as seafarers on board international vessels |
|
Japan |
biggest
employer of Filipino seafarers |
|
3,722 |
OFWs who
have signed up (June 2002) with Volunteer 12 as the Philippines' Tourism Ambassadors in
other countries |
Sources:
OFW Philippines Online and Commission on Filipino Workers Overseas, 2000
Note: Data as of
June 2002 |
Following are some of the
current programs of the Arroyo government for the benefit of OFWs and the continued
employment of Filipinos abroad:
 | strengthening bilateral relations
with countries where OFWs work |
| campaigning for the ratification of
the 1999 Convention on the Protection of Rights of All Migrant Workers |
| campaigning for the adoption of the
UN Resolution for the protection of female migrant workers |
| the Absentee Voting Bill is proposed
to allow OFWs to participate in Philippine elections |
| establishment of education centers
for low-skilled OFWs in host countries |
| issuance of fraud-proof certificates
of proficiency and competency for Philippine mariners |
| on-line identification system for
legitimate contract workers to provide them with government services minus the volumes of
paper work |
Back to top
|