Vice president Jejomar C. Binay believes that the decline in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in conflict-stricken countries in the Middle East and North African (MENA) will soon pick up, adding that outbound OFWs can likewise seek more stable countries in the region like Qatar.
Citing Philippine Overseas Employment Administration reports, Binay said Filipino migrant workers to the MENA region declined by 15,000 in the first three months of 2011 (380,188) as compared to the same period last year (395,189)
“Patapos na ang kaguluhan sa Middle East at sa North Africa kaya naman sa tingin ko, hindi na magtatagal ang pagbaba ng deployment ng ating mga OFW," said Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFWs.
The series of unrest in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain spurred the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to temporarily suspend the deployment of OFWs to these countries.
Qatar to hire thousands
Binay said OFWs from the troubled MENA region are now being re-deployed to other countries, such as Qatar which will be hosting the 2022 World Cup football event and thus needs thousands of workers in its preparations.
“Bilang paghahanda sa World Cup, mangangailangan ang Qatar ng libo-libong manggagawa at ito ay isang mahalagang oportunidad para sa ating mga kababayang OFW," he said.
In his recent visit to Qatar, Binay met with that country’s Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Labor Minister Nasser bin Abdulla Al Hamaidi, who expressed his eagerness to see a greater Filipino labor presence in his country.
Binay also learned that Qatari officials regard Filipino workers as “hardworking, disciplined, highly skilled and very professional."
“Our OFWs are well-respected and they have become excellent ambassadors of goodwill," he said. — MRT
