More OFWs had work contracts in 2008 - study

RUBY ANNE M. RUBIO
MANILA, Philippines - More Filipinos working abroad have secured employment contracts last year compared to the previous year, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said, citing the 2008 Survey on Overseas Filipinos.

Ninety-four percent of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have employment agreements during the second to third quarter of 2008, 18.75 percent higher than those who have had the same privilege in 2007.

Of the total two million Filipinos working abroad last year, 51.7 percent were male while 48.3 percent were female, the same survey said.

More than a quarter of the OFWs were in age group 25 to 29 years.

"Female OFWs were generally younger compared to male OFWs. Of the total number of female OFWs, 28.8 percent belonged to age group 25 to 29 years and 20.3 percent were in age group 30 to 34 years. Meanwhile, male OFWs were almost evenly distributed among the age groups 25 to 29, 30 to 34 and 45 and over," the data read.

One out of five OFWs worked in Saudi Arabia while one in every seven OFWs worked in United Arab Emirates.

But OFWs working in Asia, comprising 78.2 percent, sent the biggest cash remittance of P69.9 billion pesos.

Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Qatar and Taiwan were also "popular destinations" of OFWs. Those who worked in Europe comprised 9.4 percent of the total OFW population while those who worked in North and South America accounted for 8.4 percent.

About one-third were laborers and unskilled workers, which include domestic helpers, cleaners, and manufacturing laborers.

Workers employed in trades and related enterprises comprised 15.7 percent while those who worked in service jobs and shop and market sales reached 14.3 percent. Plant and machine operators and assemblers were 13 percent of the total.

Those from the National Capital Region and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal at Quezon) comprise half of the country's OFWs, who contributed 29 percent more during the period at P141.9 billion during the period.

Among occupation groups, OFWs employed as laborers or unskilled workers posted the biggest cash remittance of P19.5 billion. - GMANews.TV