Jobs, Livelihood Projects for OFWs Returning to Philippines

More than 2 million Filipinos are in the Middle East, mostly in 6 GCC countries and in Iran. They could easily be affected by political and economic security threats and emergencies which could make them return to the Philippines.

According to the DFA Report to Congress, Jan-Jun 2015, of the 2 006 644 documented OFWs, Saudi Arabia houses 892 503, UAE has 567 681, Kuwait has 207 655, Qatar has 198 900, Bahrain has 101 796, Oman has 33 678 and Iran has 4 431 workers in the region.

Of the total number of Filipinos in the region, 1 541 995 are temporary workers who are most likely first to be displaced. The DFA report also states that 4 out of 5 of the temporary workers are either semi- or low-skilled workers or Household Service Workers (HSWs).

POEA Deployment Data enacted a scenario of 10-20% returning OFWs for semi- and low- skilled category and the available local jobs in construction, transport, and logistics that could be made available for them. Shortages of skills are factored to occur in certain occupational category. Surplus in labor supply can be retooled for other service-related jobs.

PPP projects also provide wage employment options for semi- and low- skilled workers, mostly in the construction sector including the MRT Line 7; Metro Manila Skyway already under implementation, the LRT Line 4; NLEx-SLEx Connector Road ready for procurement, and 15 other projects still on the table awaiting procurement and awarding. An estimate of some 44,000 jobs may be generated from the PPP projects, similar to those generated from 12 PPP projects already awarded.

Semi- and low-skilled OFWs may qualify for HR requirements of mass housing, aerospace, iron and steel, metal casting, copper and copper products, chemical and petrochemicals. Machine fitters, machine assemblers and precision instrument makers can work in the Aerospace industry as welders, CNC machinists, Aircraft technicians. The Iron and Steel industry also need them as CNC machinists, machine operators, welders, and plant maintenance mechanics. The Mass Housing Industry also requires their skills as welders, pipefitters, metal casting molders, pattern makers, core makers, and plant machine operators. Copper and Copper Products industry is in need of machine operators, welders, smelters, laborers and helpers.

Mass Housing industry needs laborers and helpers to work as masons and carpenters. Salesmen, shop assistants and related workers are also needed in the mass housing industry as salespersons and real estate agents. Engineering technicians are in demand in the Chemical and Petrochemical industry as maintenance technicians and quality control analysts.

There are also available local jobs for professionals and skilled workers who are least likely to be persuaded to come home.

For HSWs, there are available alternative local jobs in hotel, restaurant and tourism and other service-related sectors. They can also be retooled for IT-BPM jobs like Room Attendants or Hotel Housekeepers, beauty consultants, service crew, cooks and chefs, receptionists, merchandiser, department store sales personnel, cleaners and janitors, customer service assistant, data encoder, telemarketers, or call enter agents.