MikeLigalig.com

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said here Saturday that the Philippine government is projecting only a minimal displacement of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) despite the financial crisis sweeping across the globe.

She told the jampacked crowd of Filipinos at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resort here Saturday evening (Dec. 13) that instead of retrenching its expatriate workforce, Qatar needs 37,000 more workers.

Hundreds of OWFs trooped to the President’s meeting with the Filipino community, so that the crowd spilled over from the Alghazal Room to the corridors of the hotel.

The 37,000 job openings, the President said, more than offset the displacement of Filipino workers in other countries. One thousand Filipino workers in Taiwan were retrenched recently, while 5,000 others are expected to lose their jobs.

As other countries cut down their overseas manpower requirements in the cusp of the global economic downturn, Qatar, on the contrary, continues to beef up its roll of foreign workers to fill the needs of its booming economy, she said.

Employers in Qatar and other Middle East countries prefer Filipino workers because of their diligence, trustworthiness, efficiency and skill.

The President attributed the preference of Qatari employers for Filipinos to the “galing” of the OFWs, adding that Filipino workers were well-liked by their employers.

"However, notwithstanding the continuing bright prospects for Filipino labor abroad, it’s always prudent to be prepared for the unexpected,” she said.

Thus, her administration has launched a P250-million Filipino Livelihood Support Fund to help displaced OFWs pursue their studies or engage in livelihood projects, she added.

The President assured the Filipino workers that her administration will do everything possible to help overseas Filipino workers, especially those in distress situations. source: PNA

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