Thursday, August 28, 2008 Increasing number of OFWs exit RP through Cebu airport: OWWA
THE number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) continues to increase as more countries have opened their doors to foreign workers.
In a forum hosted by the Cebuano alumni of the University of Asia and the Pacific yesterday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 7 Director Wilfreda Misterio said an average of 2,500 Filipinos leave for overseas work through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport every month.
This is a 20-percent increase compared to last year, she said. Nationwide, the Philippines deploy an average of 3,000 OFWs daily, she added.
At present, there are eight million overseas Filipino workers.
Misterio said these figures only refer to “documented OFWs,” or those who have the right documents to work overseas.
She confirmed that the current economic conditions in the country have brought about the increase in the number of Filipinos working abroad.
The current demand is mostly for blue-collar jobs, Misterio said, adding that there is also a high need for Filipino professional workers.
Among all industries, Misterio said there is a notable decrease in the deployment of domestic helpers, which is caused by the mandated increase in the minimum wage for household help.
The minimum wage for Filipino domestic helpers working overseas is $400 a month and OWWA has also required that these workers undergo training to update their skills.
Misterio also encouraged those who have plans to work abroad to process for a clearance certification from Owwa to protect them from possible exploitation.
“Even those directly hired by foreign employers will have to process for the overseas clearance certificate,” she said.
With the certification, an OFW will benefit from travel tax and international terminal fee exemptions.
When one exits the country as an OFW, the worker is also exempt from the payment and filing of income taxes, Misterio said.
Considering the contribution that cash transfers by OFWs make to the Philippine economy, Misterio is encouraging overseas Filipinos to send their remittances through formal channels, like banks and remittance centers. (DME)
