Pinoy irregular migrants, mostly in Asia, increase by over 50% in 2011 -- CFO
The newly released Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) showed a 52 percent increase in 2011 in the number of Filipino irregular migrants or those without valid residence or work permits abroad from the previous year.
The 2011 Stock Estimate, posted on the CFO website, showed increases in the different classifications of Filipino workers abroad:
A news release posted on the website of the CFO, an agency under the Office of the President, defined the different classifications of overseas Filipinos as:
Permanent migrants – include immigrants, dual citizens or legal permanent residents abroad, whose stay do not depend on work contracts.
Temporary migrants – includes Filipinos who are employed overseas but are expected to return. Students, trainees, entrepreneurs and businessmen are also considered as part of this category.
Irregular migrants – undocumented and lack proper paperwork to validate their stay overseas.
The CFO noted that permanent migrants made up the bulk of overseas Filipinos. The Stock Estimate showed the following distribution of Filipino workers abroad:
Permanent migrants - 47 percent (4.86 million),
Temporary migrants - 43 percent (4.51 million), and
Irregular migrants - 10 percent (1.07) despite the sharp 52 percent increase from 2010 to 2011.
The number of permanent migrants worldwide increased by 78 percent and temporary migrants by 48 percent.
There were 10.46 million overseas Filipinos – five percent of international migrants worldwide – spread in 217 countries, the CFO said.
Undocumented workers in Malaysia, United States
This large increase of the number of irregular migrants was attributed to the migration of undocumented Filipino workers to Malaysia: 447,590 in 2011 compared to 200,000 in 2010, a 124 percent increase.
In November last year, as part of the Philippine government's plan to phase out the sending of Filipino maids abroad in the next five years, Philippine authorities have stopped granting accreditation to labor agencies bringing in Filipino domestic workers to Malaysia.
The number of Filipina domestic workers in Malaysia reportedly rose from 4,000 in 2009 to about 10,000 now.
In December last year, Malaysian authorities have freed 105 mostly Indonesian maids who were forced to work without pay by day and held against their will at night.
The 95 Indonesians, six Filipinas and four Cambodians had entered Malaysia in recent months on social visit passes that do not confer the right to work legally in the country, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, officials were quoted saying.
Meanwhile, the CFO noted a 67 percent increase in the number of irregular migrants in the United States from 2010 to 2011.
There were 260,000 irregular migrants in the US, compared to only 156,000 in 2010.
Aside from Malaysia and the US, Singapore was also one of the top destinations of irregular migrants.
Despite these increases, the number of irregular migrants actually decreased by 34 percent in 2011 when compared to the CFO Stock Estimate in 2001.
Bogus jobs
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs warned Filipinos who were looking to land jobs in foreign soil, especially in developing countries according to a report of the Philippine News.
This was due to reports to the Consulate General that Filipinos in Hong Kong and the Philippines are being offered bogus jobs mostly in Cyprus and other developing countries by certain agencies.
The other countries where bogus jobs are being offered are in Russia, Canada, Chile, United Kingdom and Czech Republic to name a few.
To avoid being tricked, the DFA advises all job hunters to check the official list of labor market opportunities on the Consulate General's website. (www.philcongen-hk.com) - VVP, GMA News
The 2011 Stock Estimate, posted on the CFO website, showed increases in the different classifications of Filipino workers abroad:
- permanent - 10%,
- temporary - 4.36%, and
- irregular migrants - 52%.
A news release posted on the website of the CFO, an agency under the Office of the President, defined the different classifications of overseas Filipinos as:
Permanent migrants – include immigrants, dual citizens or legal permanent residents abroad, whose stay do not depend on work contracts.
Temporary migrants – includes Filipinos who are employed overseas but are expected to return. Students, trainees, entrepreneurs and businessmen are also considered as part of this category.
Irregular migrants – undocumented and lack proper paperwork to validate their stay overseas.
The CFO noted that permanent migrants made up the bulk of overseas Filipinos. The Stock Estimate showed the following distribution of Filipino workers abroad:
Permanent migrants - 47 percent (4.86 million),
Temporary migrants - 43 percent (4.51 million), and
Irregular migrants - 10 percent (1.07) despite the sharp 52 percent increase from 2010 to 2011.
The number of permanent migrants worldwide increased by 78 percent and temporary migrants by 48 percent.
There were 10.46 million overseas Filipinos – five percent of international migrants worldwide – spread in 217 countries, the CFO said.
Undocumented workers in Malaysia, United States
This large increase of the number of irregular migrants was attributed to the migration of undocumented Filipino workers to Malaysia: 447,590 in 2011 compared to 200,000 in 2010, a 124 percent increase.
In November last year, as part of the Philippine government's plan to phase out the sending of Filipino maids abroad in the next five years, Philippine authorities have stopped granting accreditation to labor agencies bringing in Filipino domestic workers to Malaysia.
The number of Filipina domestic workers in Malaysia reportedly rose from 4,000 in 2009 to about 10,000 now.
In December last year, Malaysian authorities have freed 105 mostly Indonesian maids who were forced to work without pay by day and held against their will at night.
The 95 Indonesians, six Filipinas and four Cambodians had entered Malaysia in recent months on social visit passes that do not confer the right to work legally in the country, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, officials were quoted saying.
Meanwhile, the CFO noted a 67 percent increase in the number of irregular migrants in the United States from 2010 to 2011.
There were 260,000 irregular migrants in the US, compared to only 156,000 in 2010.
Aside from Malaysia and the US, Singapore was also one of the top destinations of irregular migrants.
Despite these increases, the number of irregular migrants actually decreased by 34 percent in 2011 when compared to the CFO Stock Estimate in 2001.
Bogus jobs
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs warned Filipinos who were looking to land jobs in foreign soil, especially in developing countries according to a report of the Philippine News.
This was due to reports to the Consulate General that Filipinos in Hong Kong and the Philippines are being offered bogus jobs mostly in Cyprus and other developing countries by certain agencies.
The other countries where bogus jobs are being offered are in Russia, Canada, Chile, United Kingdom and Czech Republic to name a few.
To avoid being tricked, the DFA advises all job hunters to check the official list of labor market opportunities on the Consulate General's website. (www.philcongen-hk.com) - VVP, GMA News
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