The houses that migrant workers build but do not live in | ABS-CBN News Online Beta: "Houses without people
Overseas labor migration, which started in the 1980s, has transformed Sumilang.
The village used to be an agrarian, artisanal, and petty-trading village, located some five kilometers inland from the coastal town center. Today, a large segment of its population of nearly 2,000 persons work overseas, mostly in Spain and Italy. A sizeable number of them also work in the Persian Gulf states, Canada, and Taiwan.
Why these absent workers send money to build houses they do not live in continues to baffle many observers of the Philippine labor migration phenomenon.
A few who consider migrants as poor deem the construction of a costly house in the “middle of nowhere” as a case of misplaced values, if not a waste of scarce resources.
If not houses, some buy electrical appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, even when the village has no electricity. Anecdotes abound of migrant workers who introduce such modernity to their remote villages.
Some economists explain such spending as stimulating demand for consumer goods and services, which ultimately increases production."
Monday, October 27, 2008
OFW in Taiwan gets death penalty - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
OFW in Taiwan gets death penalty - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A Filipina who taught English in Taiwan was sentenced to death by the Kaoshiung District Court for the murder of her job broker in September last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
In a phone interview, DFA undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said the decision was handed down September 30 this year.
'The first hearing of the appeal would be on the first week of November,' he said.
Citing court records, Conejos said Nemencia Armia, an undocumented teacher whose visa had expired, had a heated argument over money with her female Taiwanese job broker in the apartment Armia was sharing with an American man.
'The court said she stabbed the victim to death with a knife, took her ATM card, and made several withdrawals using the ATM,' he said."
In a phone interview, DFA undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said the decision was handed down September 30 this year.
'The first hearing of the appeal would be on the first week of November,' he said.
Citing court records, Conejos said Nemencia Armia, an undocumented teacher whose visa had expired, had a heated argument over money with her female Taiwanese job broker in the apartment Armia was sharing with an American man.
'The court said she stabbed the victim to death with a knife, took her ATM card, and made several withdrawals using the ATM,' he said."
Monday, October 20, 2008
OFWs in Taiwan to keep jobs--recruiter - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
OFWs in Taiwan to keep jobs--recruiter - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "MANILA, Philippines -- Factories in Taiwan are slowing down operations due to cancelled orders from Western countries, but they are not shutting down, a recruiter of Filipino workers there said Tuesday.
Therefore, the 100,000 or so Filipinos working in Taiwan will continue to do so although they will be spending shorter hours, particularly on overtime, said Jackson Gan, president of the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (Pilmat).
Taiwan factory owners 'intend to keep their Filipino workers on site and to just reduce overtime hours for some factories. Other companies may re-tool their production lines and concentrate on their other electronics products,' Gan said, quoting his clients there."
Therefore, the 100,000 or so Filipinos working in Taiwan will continue to do so although they will be spending shorter hours, particularly on overtime, said Jackson Gan, president of the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (Pilmat).
Taiwan factory owners 'intend to keep their Filipino workers on site and to just reduce overtime hours for some factories. Other companies may re-tool their production lines and concentrate on their other electronics products,' Gan said, quoting his clients there."
Monday, October 13, 2008
Microsoft donates $600,000 for OFW training - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Microsoft donates $600,000 for OFW training - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "icrosoft said it is donating more than $600,000 worth of cash and software to a computer learning program for overseas Filipino workers.
This is part of the program, dubbed Tulay, which is Microsoft' global Unlimited Potential initiative that involves technology-oriented programs aimed at developing countries.
The grant, valued at exactly $633,000 according to Microsoft, was announced during official turn-over ceremonies Friday attended by Vice President Noli De Castro.
This latest grant was turned over to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a local NGO and Microsoft's program partner.
Launched in 2004, the program has established 14 so-called community technology learning centers locally and in other countries including Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
These centers cater to OFWs and their families who are trained on using basic Microsoft programs and the Internet to communicate via email and instant messaging."
This is part of the program, dubbed Tulay, which is Microsoft' global Unlimited Potential initiative that involves technology-oriented programs aimed at developing countries.
The grant, valued at exactly $633,000 according to Microsoft, was announced during official turn-over ceremonies Friday attended by Vice President Noli De Castro.
This latest grant was turned over to the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a local NGO and Microsoft's program partner.
Launched in 2004, the program has established 14 so-called community technology learning centers locally and in other countries including Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
These centers cater to OFWs and their families who are trained on using basic Microsoft programs and the Internet to communicate via email and instant messaging."
Monday, August 4, 2008
DOLE eyes high-paying jobs in Taiwan - Yahoo! Philippines News
DOLE eyes high-paying jobs in Taiwan - Yahoo! Philippines News: "The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reportedtoday that the government of Taiwan is set to implement a new policy on hiring of highly skilled Filipino workers.
'The Taiwanese government is set to implement new rules on employment which we expect to provide better and quality employment for the estimated 90,000 Filipino workers already there in Taiwan,' Roque disclosed.
Roque further noted that the Taipei and Manila Economic and Cultural Office also forged an agreement to provide training for Filipino caregivers who will work in Taiwan."
'The Taiwanese government is set to implement new rules on employment which we expect to provide better and quality employment for the estimated 90,000 Filipino workers already there in Taiwan,' Roque disclosed.
Roque further noted that the Taipei and Manila Economic and Cultural Office also forged an agreement to provide training for Filipino caregivers who will work in Taiwan."
The Manila Times Internet Edition | OFW TIMES > Migration ups OFWs’ democratic wishes, says study
The Manila Times Internet Edition | OFW TIMES > Migration ups OFWs’ democratic wishes, says study: "OVERSEAS Filipino workers’ (OFWs) experiences and learnings abroad have been identified as a major reason for their discontent over the social, economic and political performance of the Philippine government among returning migrants, said researchers involved in the research project entitled Democratization through Migration?
The study noted that this factor is true across migrants, regardless of the political system prevailing in their host country, as long as they have been exposed to a society with a functioning economy that has provided for the material needs of its citizens.
This is one of the main results of a study presented on July 29 at the Dr. Alfredo J. Ganapin Advocacy Forum organized by the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
Said Ellene Sana, CMA executive director, “These findings that identify the potential effects of migration on the democratization process in the Philippines are highly relevant as these perceptions have the potential to weaken and diffuse support for democracy, combined with a widespread sentiment of powerlessness conveyed in the interviews.”"
The study noted that this factor is true across migrants, regardless of the political system prevailing in their host country, as long as they have been exposed to a society with a functioning economy that has provided for the material needs of its citizens.
This is one of the main results of a study presented on July 29 at the Dr. Alfredo J. Ganapin Advocacy Forum organized by the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
Said Ellene Sana, CMA executive director, “These findings that identify the potential effects of migration on the democratization process in the Philippines are highly relevant as these perceptions have the potential to weaken and diffuse support for democracy, combined with a widespread sentiment of powerlessness conveyed in the interviews.”"
Monday, July 21, 2008
Gov’t urged to prepare for economic dislocation of OFWs - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
Gov’t urged to prepare for economic dislocation of OFWs - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "MANILA, Philippines -- Worried over the possible displacement of overseas Filipino workers due to the economic slump that has affected some key countries, a labor group on Monday called on the government to take strong measures to protect OFWs from economic dislocation.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the government should closely monitor the number of OFWs who would be laid off as foreign employers choose to cut down on labor costs or decide to replace them with locals.
For instance, there could be a possible displacement of workers in Taiwan since relations between the island and mainland China have begun to warm up. The TUCP noted that there were at present some 90,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan."
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the government should closely monitor the number of OFWs who would be laid off as foreign employers choose to cut down on labor costs or decide to replace them with locals.
For instance, there could be a possible displacement of workers in Taiwan since relations between the island and mainland China have begun to warm up. The TUCP noted that there were at present some 90,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan."
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