While the situation in Taiwan remains most dire for OFWs, with 4,140 sent packing in recent weeks, Canada ranks No. 2 among countries that have sent migrant Filipino workers home, with 180 recently returning to The Philippines. As of February 1, this year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has reported that there have been 5,221 displaced OFWs in 15 countries who have returned home since the global economic downturn worsened in September 2008. The agency also listed more than 270 OFWs in five countries who are awaiting flights home because of establishment closures in their host countries. While Filipino remittances – or overseas earnings sent home to family – increased by 14 per cent in 2008 to a total of $16.4 billion, a private think-tank in The Philippines this week released a report that said the country’s dependence on remittances makes The Philippines very vulnerable to the current global financial turmoil. IBON Foundation said the situation that Filipino workers abroad are facing should be a wake-up call for government. "While the administration has been criticized for its over dependence on remittances, it still places high hopes that the steady flow of OFW remittances will buffer the domestic economy. Such hopes may turn out misplaced as remittances and incomes of OFW households are at risk," IBON said. Canada features as "major source" of Filipino remittances, according to a recent report from the Philippine central bank. Those remittances comprise 10.4 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. "The situation is a wake-up call for government which has mythologized overseas remittances as some kind of magic bullet for development," IBON said. Taiwan is one of the hardest-hit export dependent countries in Asia and recently fired the bulk of some 5,404 OFWs. Of the total number of retrenched workers, 4,140 came from Taiwan; 180 from Canada; 81 from Australia; and 74 from Korea. Philippine recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani warned that Dubai, one of the top Filipino destinations in the United Arab Emirates, might be the next hotspot for massive lay-offs of migrant workers. Geslani said that a US$582-billion construction project was suspended in the emirate following the economic crunch. The Philippine government is scrambling to reintegrate these displaced workers in to the Philippine economy and has readied a C$180-million emergency fund to sustain employment opportunities for returning Filipinos for two years. The Philippine press reported this week that 50 laid off OFWs have a new lease on life after being awarded loans by the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA). OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon said on Monday that the loans ranged from C$770 to C$1,300. "We gave them the loans on condition that they would set up a business and become entrepreneurs," Dimzon said in an interview. The loans would be paid within 24-months with a five per cent annual interest. And the Philippine government is now reaching out to its workers overseas in downturn hotspots. The embassy is also in talks with the Central Bank of the Philippines for a possible program on migrant worker-centred financial services this year. And the embassy has even invited a team from Manila specializing in "reintegration service" to provide skills training, livelihood orientation to displaced workers, and referrals for employment in other viable companies both in The Philippines and abroad. They also provided counselling services, certificates for free training and information materials about job opportunities in Canada.
Asianpacificpost.com About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | Downloads
© Copyright Asianpacificpost.com 1997-2009 Terms & Conditions | Privacy Code
The Louis Vuitton company
The Louis Vuitton company carefully cultivates a celebrity following and has used famous models and actresses such as Jennifer Lopez and most Fashion Louis Vuitton in its marketing campaigns. Breaking from their usual traditions of employing supermodels and celebrities to advertise their products, on August 2, 2007, the company announced that the former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev would appear in an ad campaign along with Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, and Louis Vuitton new handbag. Many rappers, most notably Kanye West, have mentioned the company in certain songs.
watch
The executive mansion was torched by British troops in 1814, during the War of 1812. omega watchThe structural damage caused by the fire was repaired but the exterior sandstone walls were still black with fire damage. replica omega watchesThe walls were then painted white, giving birth to the nick name "The White House". An act of Congress made this the official name in 1902.
replicas watches
We offer a selection of the highest quality replica watches available today. replicas watches Genuine watches of these replicas are very expensive and the choice of the rich, replicas watches famous and collectors around the world.
Write comment