Group asks govt to help OFWs amid economic crisis

MANILA, Philippines - An organized group of laborers asked the government to impose measures that would address the projected displacement of Filipinos abroad in the midst of a growing food and fuel crisis experienced throughout the world.

In a statement on Monday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said displacement of overseas Filipino workers due to the lingering economic slump that has affected some key countries should now be look at.

The TUCP cited the case of Taiwan where a total of 90,000 OFWs are currently employed.

“We expect that a good number of OFWs employed in various countries will feel the pinch of the international economic glut that is fueled by the crises on petroleum and food prices and what is happening in the US market is a good indicator’, TUCP said.

“If the trend continues, migrant workers will be forced back home in big numbers and it is always good to plan for contingencies, TUCP added.

According to the trade union the possibility of displacement of workers in Taiwan is likely especially now that relations between the island-country and mainland China begin to warm up.

Taiwan may eventually prefer workers from the mainland over Filipinos in consideration of lower wages given to Chinese, the group said.

Aside from Taiwan, TUCP is also worried over the crackdown of the Malaysian government of illegal migrants.

“The TUCP stressed that it is essential for government to provide alternative livelihood for migrant workers when they come back home"

The group similarly suggested the government to identify possible solutions and one of this is the business process outsourcing industry as a possible catch basin for returning OFWs.

“While the call center industry has been affected by the slowing down of the US economy, it still commands good prospects for growth", TUCP said.

OFWs coming back from North America, according to the group, are qualified to work in call centers as they have actually observed and experienced life in the US and Canada.

TUCP said that the OFWs should also be given opportunities to put up their own business and provided with access to markets and low-interest loans.

The trade union center also said that a special window for OFWs should be established to provide counseling for micro-enterprise ventures.

At the moment, there are an estimated eight million Filipino workers employed in over 180 countries and majority of them are in United States, the Middle East, Europe and in Asia. - GMANews.TV

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