DOLE: No layoff of Pinoys in US

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sees no massive layoff of Filipino workers in the United States despite the prevailing economic crisis there.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the prevailing economic condition in the US would only have “minimal” effect on Filipino workers in America.

“Majority of Filipinos in the US are permanent residents... Suffice to say, we can say the economic problems of the US will not affect largely our OFWs,’’ Baldoz said.

The labor chief noted that the US economy would have more effect on the Philippines and other countries, but not much on overseas Filipino workers.

Of the more than three million Filipinos in the US, there are only about 20,000 OFWs, according to Baldoz.

A majority of the Filipinos in America are employed as teachers, medical workers and other professionals that they can hardly be affected by the economic plunge.

“If the Middle East is the number one OFW destination, we can say US is number one in having permanent residents that are Filipinos,” Baldoz said.

She said the Philippine government is prepared to help Filipino workers who may be forced to come home if things continue its turn for the worst in America.

“We would like to take the opportunity to remind them of shifting their mindsets when they come back here and consider our livelihood and entrepreneurial programs by becoming businessmen instead of being employees,’’ Baldoz said.

She added that DOLE is ready to assist the OFWs if they want to be redeployed to other countries with growing economies such as Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia.