Labor Migration and the Global Filipino

R.N.G. Salvador PS 201 S.Y. 2010-2011

i. Facts and Figures

Since 1970s, the Philippines a country of about 7,000 islands peopled by diverse ethnolinguistic groups has supplied all kinds of skilled and low-skilled workers to the world's more developed regions As of December 2004, an estimated 8.1 million Filipinos nearly 10 percent of the country's 85 million people were working and/or residing in close to 200 countries and territories

The foreign population in the Philippines consists of people of Chinese origin (some 80 percent of overseas Chinese are in Southeast Asia) and some people of Indian origin who came to settle in the country years ago In the last 30 years, a "culture of migration" has emerged, with millions of Filipinos eager to work abroad, despite the risks and vulnerabilities they are likely to face

ii. Determinants of Migrations

Economic disparities in per capita income; limited growth for career advancements; inconsistent economic growth which hampers employment generation Demography high population growth compared to neighbouring countries Political long running political unrest in the country especially in the South Environment frequency of storms and the weak disaster preparedness schemes

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iii. Status: Labor Exporter

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OFW Statistics Stock Estimate

iv. Temporary Migrants vs. Permanent Emigrants

Temporary Migrants Permanent Emigrants

Destinations

Middle East, Asia

North America in the US, Europe

Occupations

Service workers, Production Process, Tranpo, Laborers

Unemployed, Professionals, Sales, Clerical

Education Sex Age

Tertiary Women 24-44

Highly educated Women 44 years above, yet there are a lot of students

v. Series of Unfortunate Events

1. Global recession open economies in SEA and EA were badly hit because of the slow down in major markets - Demand for health workers and sea fearers declined 2. War in the Middle East ME is a labor importing country. - For protection purposes, many laborers were sent by the consulate offices back home until the war finally subsides.

vii. Workers Protection Order

The Migrant Women - face particular vulnerabilities. Aside from the usual problems that plague migrants, their jobs in domestic work and entertainment usually mean long working hours, surveillance and control by employers, and abusive conditions, including violence and sexual harassment. Given the "private" context in which they work, the problems encountered by migrant women in these sectors go unnoticed. (Asis, 2006)

In general, compared to other national groups, Filipino workers are relatively better protected because they are more educated, more likely to speak English, and they are better organized. NGOs for migrants in the Philippines and their networks abroad not only provide services and support to migrants, but, more importantly, they advocate for migrants' rights.

RA 8042: The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act - first among the countries of origin in Asia to craft a law that aims "to establish a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress."

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, which establishes policies and institutional mechanisms to provide support to trafficked persons Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, which gives qualified overseas Filipinos the right to vote in national elections the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, which allows for dual citizenship

viii. Remittances
According to a 2005 World Bank report, the Philippines is the fifth-largest recipient of remittance flows after India, China, Mexico, and France.

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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is also working on enforcing minimum standards for banks and other players in the remittance business to protect OFWs and their families from fly-bynight operators, excessive fees, unfair foreign currency conversion, and delivery problems.

References
Abrigo, Michael and Orbeta, Aniceto Jr. 2009. Philippine International Labour Migration in the Past 30 Years: Trends and Prospects. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Disc Paper Series No. 2009-33. Asis, Maruja M.B. 2005. "Caring for the World: Filipino Domestic Workers Gone Global." InAsian Women as Transnational Domestic Workers. Edited by Shirlena Huang, Brenda Yeoh and Noor Abdul Rahman. Singapore: Marshall and Cavendish Academic. Pp 21-53.