Who are OFWs?
The Philippines sends 10 percent of its population (about 10 million people) to work abroad. Filipinos work in every country except North Korea, according to Labor Secretary Patricia Santo Tomas. More than 2.5 million work in the United States and nearly a million in Saudi Arabia, with hundreds of thousands more working in the Middle East, mostly as maids and laborers. About 70 percent of Filipino workers are legal. The other 30 percent are undocumented illegal workers. (Source: factsanddetails.com)
Occupations
Major Occupational Categories of Newly-Hired OFWs (2015)
Source: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)
Where do they work?
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data show that for over 5 years, the highest number of OFWs was deployed in Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates. In 2015, most of the countries belonging to the top 10 destinations of OFWs were in the Middle East and Southeast Asia: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Qatar, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Oman, Bahrain.
Problems Faced Abroad
More regulation and protection for OFWs needs to be prioritized by the Philippine government. OFWs are consistently exposed to violence from abusive employers, exploitation, incarceration (which sometimes leads to death sentences) and worst, death itself. The issue of forced migration must also be addressed: if the Philippines is rich with natural resources, why are Filipinos forced to leave their homeland due to lack of opportunities?
Workers' Rights
Migrant worker groups like Migrante International are necessary for the empowerment and protection of OFWs.
Migrante International
Migrante International is an active defender of the rights and welfare of OFWs by raising public awareness on their plight and providing a critical analysis of the Philippine government’s labor export policy program as the main factor responsible for the commodification of Filipino workers.Migrante International has handled and assisted thousands of welfare and rights cases, including the landmark and record-breaking case of Angelo dela Cruz who was kidnapped and held hostage in war-torn Iraq in 2004. Migrante International’s quick public information work was able to mobilize thousands of Filipinos into pressuring the government into action. The resounding support for dela Cruz’ case, both locally and internationally, caused the government to pull out Filipino troops in Iraq and dela Cruz was eventually rescued from captivity. Many other battles followed: cases of stranded, detained and mysterious deaths, rape and sex-trafficking, wage cuts and maltreatment, anti-migrant policies and laws, evacuation in times of war, the plunder and corruption of OFW funds, and the continuing clamor for genuine public service and good governance for OFWs.
Through them all, Migrante International has remained steadfast and has earned the trust and respect of OFW families and fellow advocates worldwide. After more than a decade since its establishment in 1996, Migrante International continues its consistent and unwavering record of service to OFWs. It now has over 200 member-organizations in over 23 countries, making it the biggest organization of overseas Filipinos all over the world.
Migrante Alberta, a Migrante International chapter based in Alberta, Canada.
– Promote migrants’ rights and dignity against all forms of discrimination, exploitation and abuse in the work place and in the community and resist all anti-migrant policies
– Assert the right to organize
– Strengthen unity among OFWs and rally their families and advocates towards the upholding of migrants’ rights for jobs, fair wages and due recognition
– Push for the building of a self-reliant economy to stop forced migration, promote social equity and justice and unite with other sectors of society for the advancement of national development and democracy
– Build solidarity with migrant organizations of other nationalities and peoples who are against the plunder of economies, destruction of the environment and wars of aggression that cause widespread poverty and injustice