Philippines to send young workers to Micronesia

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is ready to send workers to Micronesia following the lifting of the deployment ban to the island nation, President Marcos said.

During a meeting with Micronesian President Wesley Simina on Oct. 13 at Malacañang, Marcos said the Philippines could provide Micronesia with the necessary workforce, noting that the Southeast Asian country still feels the effects of the pandemic and that jobs are at a premium.

He added that the lifting of the ban on new workers would “change the dynamics” and “enable Filipinos to see certain things that can be done in Micronesia.”

“We are lucky in the Philippines that we have a very young workforce and they are very used to working in other countries,” Marcos told Simina.

“I am sure that they will be those who will take up the offer to live and work in Micronesia. And I think the fact that you’re not that far away is also (a) big advantage,” he added.

In 2018, the Philippine government banned the processing and deployment of workers to Micronesia because of reports about the maltreatment and abuse of overseas Filipino workers in the island-nation.

The Department of Migrant Workers has lifted the ban due to Micronesia’s efforts to forge a bilateral labor agreement with the Philippines for the protection of OFWs in its territory.

At the same meeting, Simina told Marcos he wants the Micronesian police force to train with Philippine law enforcers.