MANILA, 24 June— Member countries of the European Economic Community (EEC) are now among the most promising destinations for skilled Filipino workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has said.
Citing data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the department showed that the deployment of Filipino workers to Europe grew 28 percent to 39,296 in 2000 from 30,707 in 1999.
In the first quarter of 2001, OFW deployment to that continent grew by another 3.94 percent to 11,513 from 11,077 during that same period last year. The DOLE added that those gains signified the demand and preference for skilled Filipino workers and reinforced the country’s long-running trade, economic and historical ties with Europe.
Acting Labor Secretary Jose M. Espa?ol stressed however that Saudi Arabia has remained the top destination in the last two decades despite the yearly growth in OFW deployment and hiring prospects opening up in other areas abroad. “Whether in the developed or in the developing countries, skilled OFWs have definitely proven themselves as assets and partners to the local workforce in hurdling the challenges to growth,” Espa?ol said.
He stressed that because of the demand for and the preference for skilled Filipinos, OFW deployment has nearly reached the one million level. (Julie Javellana)
