OWWA: 5,000 OFWs displaced by global crisis
By MARIA ALETA O. NIEVA, abs-cbnNEWS.com
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More than 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 10 host destinations have been displaced by the global economic crisis.
According to Carmelita Dimzon, Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), there are now 5,036 Filipino migrant workers displaced by the crisis.
“As of January 28, there were 5,036 OFWs who were displaced from Taiwan, Australia, Brunei, UK (United Kingdom), UAE (United Arab Emirates), Macau, Korea, Russia, Poland and Canada.
Dimzon said that most of those affected were OFWs in Taiwan where the number of those affected has reached 4,140.
“Itong January, we didn’t have too many numbers that were sent home from Taiwan, but of course we're looking at the figures POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) provided us,” Dimzon said.
The other workers came from the United Arab Emirates at 298; Canada, 180; Macau, 152; Australia, 81; Korea, 74; Brunei, 69; Russia, 19; United Kingdom, 16; and Poland, 7.
In a press conference on Monday at the OWWA headquarters in Pasay City, Dimzon said that there are now 114 companies affected by the crisis.
“Ang maraming companies na nag-retrench ay syempre sa Taiwan,” Dimzon said.
Of the 114 companies, 82 are located in Taiwan; 12 in Korea; 8 in UAE; 5 in Macau; 2 in Australia; and one each in Brunei, UK, Russia, Poland, and Canada.
The reports on displaced OFWs were gathered by the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), Dimzon said.
The OWWA Administrator cited the reasons for the displacement of Filipino workers range from bankruptcy, retrenchment, redundancy, restructuring, reduction in workload, operation slowdown, cost-cutting in operational cost, and voluntarily repatriation.
“Mayroon din naman nagsabing gusto naming umuwi, especially yung nasa Taiwan,” Dimzon said.
“So yun ang mga reasons why we have 5,036 OFWs as of January 28 na na-retrench,” she said.
DOLE’s options
According to Dimzon, DOLE is offering four options to workers displaced by the economic crisis:
an overseas employment offer where the POEA helps OFWs with a ready referral to a recruitment agency for easy deployment or immediate deployment;
finding OFWs local jobs with the help of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) if they prefer to stay home;
upgrading of skills from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and,
livelihood projects to displaced workers through a loan package from OWWA.
“P100M inilaan ng OWWA para sa assistance package for those who want to expand their capital for their livelihood project,” she said.
The DOLE has ordered the establishment of the OFW Help Desks in all OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) to serve as a one-stop-shop that would offer affected OFWs these options.
“If the worker decides to avail of the fourth option, he or she will go to the NRCO (National Reintegration Center for OFWs). If the worker comes to register, titingnan kung siya ay na-displace talaga ng financial crisis. We’re looking at October 16, yun ang reckoning period natin kasi yun na yung report ng mga POLOs,” she explained.
Within the day, the NCRO will facilitate the requalification process, profiling and assessment before the OFW is given his or her certificate of eligibility for the P10,000 grant.
“Yung certificate of eligibility na yun ay gagawin para siya ay makapag business counseling, makapag-entrepreneurial and production training, makapag-simula na siya doon sa negosyong gusto niyang gawin at bibigyan siya ng working capital in the form of raw materials, tools jigs,” she said.
“In other words, there is no cash given to the worker, to the OFW. Bibigyan siya ng training, raw materials, para sa negosyo niya na ang halaga ay P10,000. That is a grant,” explained Dimzon.
Microenterprises
OFWs can select from several micro enterprises which they would want to venture into like meat processing, fashion accessories, dimsum-making, chocolate-making, and business operation.
After deciding on what business to take, they are then referred to two accredited partners—the Technology Resource Center (TRC) or the Dream Incorporated.
“The worker will choose which partner. Kung napili nya TRC ipapadala siya dun bibigyan siya ng referral and the actual business now start,” she said.
After completing the first phase which is the grant, the OFW then has the option to expand his or her capital. The OWWA will directly lend a displaced OFW up to P50,000 to expand his livelihood project.
Dimzon said the loan is available at a low 5% interest per annum, no collateral, and payable over 24 months after a grace period of 90 days, interest free.
“Kailangan lang ikaw ay OFW member ng OWWA, na-displace ng financial crisis, may business plan at may promissory note. At kung ikaw ay married, kailangan ng consent ng spouse,” she said.
She added that “since the trust fund of P100M is revolving, kailangan lang magbayad sila ng utang para yung pondong yun ay di nauubos.”
OFWs who want to avail of the loan must first attend free business courses on the production and management of their livelihood projects to borrow from OWWA.
“Hindi sila pwedeng pumunta sa phase II kung hindi sila nagte-training. Hindi naman nating pwedeng ipamigay lang ang pera sa mga OFWs. Remember, the OFWs are always telling OWWA, take care of our money. Pera namin yan huwag nyong lustayin kaya naman mina-manage nating mabuti ang pera nila,” said Dimzon.
Printer-friendly version | Send to friend
More than 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 10 host destinations have been displaced by the global economic crisis.
According to Carmelita Dimzon, Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), there are now 5,036 Filipino migrant workers displaced by the crisis.
“As of January 28, there were 5,036 OFWs who were displaced from Taiwan, Australia, Brunei, UK (United Kingdom), UAE (United Arab Emirates), Macau, Korea, Russia, Poland and Canada.
Dimzon said that most of those affected were OFWs in Taiwan where the number of those affected has reached 4,140.
“Itong January, we didn’t have too many numbers that were sent home from Taiwan, but of course we're looking at the figures POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) provided us,” Dimzon said.
The other workers came from the United Arab Emirates at 298; Canada, 180; Macau, 152; Australia, 81; Korea, 74; Brunei, 69; Russia, 19; United Kingdom, 16; and Poland, 7.
In a press conference on Monday at the OWWA headquarters in Pasay City, Dimzon said that there are now 114 companies affected by the crisis.
“Ang maraming companies na nag-retrench ay syempre sa Taiwan,” Dimzon said.
Of the 114 companies, 82 are located in Taiwan; 12 in Korea; 8 in UAE; 5 in Macau; 2 in Australia; and one each in Brunei, UK, Russia, Poland, and Canada.
The reports on displaced OFWs were gathered by the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), Dimzon said.
The OWWA Administrator cited the reasons for the displacement of Filipino workers range from bankruptcy, retrenchment, redundancy, restructuring, reduction in workload, operation slowdown, cost-cutting in operational cost, and voluntarily repatriation.
“Mayroon din naman nagsabing gusto naming umuwi, especially yung nasa Taiwan,” Dimzon said.
“So yun ang mga reasons why we have 5,036 OFWs as of January 28 na na-retrench,” she said.
DOLE’s options
According to Dimzon, DOLE is offering four options to workers displaced by the economic crisis:
an overseas employment offer where the POEA helps OFWs with a ready referral to a recruitment agency for easy deployment or immediate deployment;
finding OFWs local jobs with the help of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) if they prefer to stay home;
upgrading of skills from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and,
livelihood projects to displaced workers through a loan package from OWWA.
“P100M inilaan ng OWWA para sa assistance package for those who want to expand their capital for their livelihood project,” she said.
The DOLE has ordered the establishment of the OFW Help Desks in all OWWA Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) to serve as a one-stop-shop that would offer affected OFWs these options.
“If the worker decides to avail of the fourth option, he or she will go to the NRCO (National Reintegration Center for OFWs). If the worker comes to register, titingnan kung siya ay na-displace talaga ng financial crisis. We’re looking at October 16, yun ang reckoning period natin kasi yun na yung report ng mga POLOs,” she explained.
Within the day, the NCRO will facilitate the requalification process, profiling and assessment before the OFW is given his or her certificate of eligibility for the P10,000 grant.
“Yung certificate of eligibility na yun ay gagawin para siya ay makapag business counseling, makapag-entrepreneurial and production training, makapag-simula na siya doon sa negosyong gusto niyang gawin at bibigyan siya ng working capital in the form of raw materials, tools jigs,” she said.
“In other words, there is no cash given to the worker, to the OFW. Bibigyan siya ng training, raw materials, para sa negosyo niya na ang halaga ay P10,000. That is a grant,” explained Dimzon.
Microenterprises
OFWs can select from several micro enterprises which they would want to venture into like meat processing, fashion accessories, dimsum-making, chocolate-making, and business operation.
After deciding on what business to take, they are then referred to two accredited partners—the Technology Resource Center (TRC) or the Dream Incorporated.
“The worker will choose which partner. Kung napili nya TRC ipapadala siya dun bibigyan siya ng referral and the actual business now start,” she said.
After completing the first phase which is the grant, the OFW then has the option to expand his or her capital. The OWWA will directly lend a displaced OFW up to P50,000 to expand his livelihood project.
Dimzon said the loan is available at a low 5% interest per annum, no collateral, and payable over 24 months after a grace period of 90 days, interest free.
“Kailangan lang ikaw ay OFW member ng OWWA, na-displace ng financial crisis, may business plan at may promissory note. At kung ikaw ay married, kailangan ng consent ng spouse,” she said.
She added that “since the trust fund of P100M is revolving, kailangan lang magbayad sila ng utang para yung pondong yun ay di nauubos.”
OFWs who want to avail of the loan must first attend free business courses on the production and management of their livelihood projects to borrow from OWWA.
“Hindi sila pwedeng pumunta sa phase II kung hindi sila nagte-training. Hindi naman nating pwedeng ipamigay lang ang pera sa mga OFWs. Remember, the OFWs are always telling OWWA, take care of our money. Pera namin yan huwag nyong lustayin kaya naman mina-manage nating mabuti ang pera nila,” said Dimzon.
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