Displaced Filipino workers priority of RP govt - DOLE
MANILA, Philippines - As workers continue to be laid off all over the world, the Department of Labor and Employment and Employment on Friday assured displaced Filipino workers that they are the priority of the Philippine government.
"[The welfare of displaced of Filipino workers] is very, very important. It's always in the agenda of the Cabinet meeting," said Labor Secretary Marianito Roque in a press conference on Friday (January 30, 2009).
As of January 30, Roque said that 5,404 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have been displaced since October 2008 while 40,000 local workers have been laid off and 33,000have begun to experience shorter working hours.
Of the more than laid-off OFWs, 4,140 came from Taiwan, 298 from the United Arab Emirates, 180 from Canada, 81 from Australia, and 74 from Korea. The countries where the remaining number of retrenched Filipino workers came from were not disclosed.
As such, he said that DOLE has allotted P402,852,000 for its package of assistance to workers affected by the global financial crisis, about P4.2 million of which has already been allocated to 1,015 workers.
He said that P1.5 million has been released for comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment programs like the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).
On the other hand, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon has said that her agency can lend up to P50,000 to a displaced OFW for him or her to start a livelihood project or business enterprise.
She said the loan is available at a low five percent interest per annum with no collateral and is payable for over 24 months with an interest-free grace period of 80 days.
But aside from the monetary assistance, Roque said that they have also set up programs that would help Filipino workers obtain the skills that they need to work and start businesses.
"We have also spearheaded the Unified Nurses' Learning and Deployment Project (UNLAD) to create a pool of adequately trained, competent, and readily available nurses for local and overseas employment. This is in partnership with the Department of Health," he said.
He added that their National Reintegration Centers for OFWs, OWWA, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Technical Skills Development Authority, and their regional offices are ready with their training, livelihood assistance, and job-placement referral services for those who returned to the country.
"I have also tasked the POEA to validate the approved job orders and facilitate private sector-led marketing missions to generate more employment opportunities," he said.
When asked if he foresees more job losses in the future, Roque said: "I have no projections this year, nobody can project."
He did, however, say that now the Philippine government has an edge over other countries because it is taking measures against the economic crisis.
"The difference today is now we're conscious about it," he said. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
"[The welfare of displaced of Filipino workers] is very, very important. It's always in the agenda of the Cabinet meeting," said Labor Secretary Marianito Roque in a press conference on Friday (January 30, 2009).
As of January 30, Roque said that 5,404 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have been displaced since October 2008 while 40,000 local workers have been laid off and 33,000have begun to experience shorter working hours.
Of the more than laid-off OFWs, 4,140 came from Taiwan, 298 from the United Arab Emirates, 180 from Canada, 81 from Australia, and 74 from Korea. The countries where the remaining number of retrenched Filipino workers came from were not disclosed.
As such, he said that DOLE has allotted P402,852,000 for its package of assistance to workers affected by the global financial crisis, about P4.2 million of which has already been allocated to 1,015 workers.
He said that P1.5 million has been released for comprehensive livelihood and emergency employment programs like the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD).
On the other hand, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon has said that her agency can lend up to P50,000 to a displaced OFW for him or her to start a livelihood project or business enterprise.
She said the loan is available at a low five percent interest per annum with no collateral and is payable for over 24 months with an interest-free grace period of 80 days.
But aside from the monetary assistance, Roque said that they have also set up programs that would help Filipino workers obtain the skills that they need to work and start businesses.
"We have also spearheaded the Unified Nurses' Learning and Deployment Project (UNLAD) to create a pool of adequately trained, competent, and readily available nurses for local and overseas employment. This is in partnership with the Department of Health," he said.
He added that their National Reintegration Centers for OFWs, OWWA, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Technical Skills Development Authority, and their regional offices are ready with their training, livelihood assistance, and job-placement referral services for those who returned to the country.
"I have also tasked the POEA to validate the approved job orders and facilitate private sector-led marketing missions to generate more employment opportunities," he said.
When asked if he foresees more job losses in the future, Roque said: "I have no projections this year, nobody can project."
He did, however, say that now the Philippine government has an edge over other countries because it is taking measures against the economic crisis.
"The difference today is now we're conscious about it," he said. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
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