More Pinoys opting to work in Spain

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos who are touring or already working in Europe are now opting to work in Spain, according to a migration expert.

Recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani yesterday said there has been a sharp increase in the number of Filipino workers in Spain, with figures even breaching 100,000, most of them undocumented.

The figure is being attributed to thousands of Filipinos having moved to the country in the past 10 years as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have found comfortable employment in the Philippines’ former colonizer with the moderate weather and liberal working conditions.

In a disclosure provided through email, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) – Madrid officer Maria Corazon Sangco said various factors, including employment opportunities, family reunification, pursuit of education and other personal reasons, could be cited for the increasing number of OFWs who have crossed borders from Scandinavian countries like Norway and Sweden to Spain.

Sangco added that there are also Filipinos who had entered Spain initially as tourists and overstayed.

“Others come from third countries where they worked as au pairs, a cultural exchange program under the auspices of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas or those who were victimized by unscrupulous recruitment agencies/individuals, usually through social media and recruited from third-world countries who come to Europe on a non-working or tourist visa, who leave them to fend for themselves once they land in Spain, or cross to Spain from other European Union countries, like Croatia, Romania, Hungary, etc. before the lapse of their visitor’s visa,” she said.

The occupations of Filipinos in Spain range in industries from agriculture to construction and industrial and services, according to the DMW officer.

OFWs in Madrid or other cities in Spain engage in a wide range of occupations in various sectors such as agriculture with 0.32 percent, industrial (1.32 percent), construction (1.08 percent) and services, including domestic workers (97.28 percent), according to the DMW officer.

“The type of work varies, depending on individual qualifications and opportunities available,” she said.

In the case of some tourists who were trafficked to Spain the Philippine embassy through the leadership of Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier is committed to provide assistance to all Filipinos.

Last year, the DMW processed and deployed 1,164 OFWs to Spain.

The Philippine embassy in Spain reported that the stock estimate of Filipinos is 49,336, but the actual number could reach 100,000 including those who have acquired Spanish nationality.

Sangco gave assurance that the Philippine embassy in Spain is committed to providing assistance to Filipinos regardless of their migration status.

She said that the embassy is closely working with the DMW and the Spanish government to ensure the protection of Filipino workers.