OFW scene

While a number of overseas Filipino workers, many from Taiwan, have been returning home jobless, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration records show that around 3,000 leave every day to work abroad.

As the OFW picture keeps changing, note these POEA concerns:

• The nationalization policy in many Gulf countries limits hiring foreign workers, particularly unskilled labor.

• Canada’s growth rate for the second quarter has slowed down. Some employers have requested that visa processing for OFWs be put on hold.

• Macau has adopted a policy to rely more on local workers and to fight irregular migration.

• Australia reports that fewer employers are willing to sponsors foreign workers under its long-term temporary skilled workers program.

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SLOWDOWN: Note these POEA observations on specific employers:

• Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest national oil company, is reviewing some big projects and has talked with contractors about reducing costs.

• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has scrapped bids for the first phase of its Station P project in Hassyan.

• The Palm Deira project, the world’s largest man-made island in Dubai, will be scaled back, delayed or even cancelled because of financing problems.

• Nakheel has scaled back on work on Dubai Waterfront, the world’s largest waterfront development project.

• The ATH Garments factory in Brunei where 500 Filipinos work is downsizing. Brunei’s construction firm SDN BHD has reduced to 16 its 50 Filipino workers.

• Macau’s Las Vegas Sands is stopping part of its $12-billion development, displacing some 11,000 local and foreign workers.

• Austal Shipbuilding Co. made redundant 100 workers, 75 of them Filipinos.

• Hiring of health-care workers in Malaga, Spain, has slowed down.

• Italy’s largest trade union CGIL wants a temporary ban on foreign job-seekers.

• Five UK companies (Voltcom Ltd., Corus, Virgin Media, Glaxo, and British Telecom) have laid off 69 OFWs.

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