700,000 OFWs to lose job over COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — As many as 700,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may lose their jobs as a result of the pandemic-induced global recession, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

In a briefing with the economic team on the country’s employment situation, Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said that as the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic continue to unfold, it is becoming more apparent that overseas employment prospects in the tourism, retail and personal services sectors will continue to shrink.

With limited economic activity worldwide, host countries will also naturally reserve available jobs for their own nationals.

“When it comes to OFWs, our data shows that there are currently 500,000 OFWs who have been affected by the pandemic and if the situation will not be averted soon, like at the end of this year, we are expecting 200,000 more OFWs will be affected. So it runs to around 700,000,” Tutay said.

She, however, noted that there are several opportunities for overseas employment in Europe and the Americas for healthcare workers as well as those in the information technology and construction sectors.

“There is a demand for health workers, particularly doctors, nurses, radiologists, psychologists and occupational therapists. And this is mostly in Europe. There is also a demand for construction and IT-related skills for Europe. And in the Americas, particularly in Guam for the construction sector,” Tutay said.

In the country, the demand for health workers continue to rise amid the escalating number of COVID-19 positive cases, Tutay said.

“The government needs nurses and other health-related human resource in this pandemic situation,” said Tutay.

“Meanwhile, the Information Technology and Business Process Management sector is also opening opportunities not just for locally displaced workers but also for our returning OFWs.”

The DOLE is also offering grants and loans to returning OFWs to enable them to start their own businesses.

Despite the availability of opportunities for healthcare workers overseas, Filipino nurses cannot take advantage of these yet because of an existing ban on the deployment of nurses abroad.

Exempted fro the policy implemented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration were those who have secured work contracts as of March 8. Those with existing contracts were also allowed to leave the country.