MANILA, Philippines—The estimated 40,000 overseas Filipino workers in France, mostly caregivers privately employed by families, are keeping their jobs despite the layoffs in many parts of the world caused by global recession, new French Ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Borja De Mozota has said.
“At the moment, there is no sign of reduction of workers of families in France. They are not working for companies, so there is no reason for them to lose their jobs,” he told reporters during a reception in his residence in Makati recently.
The ambassador said the French government recognizes the contribution of the Filipino community to the French economy.
However, he said, a cause for concern is the estimated 33,000 undocumented OFWs.
That is why, Borja de Mozota said, his office is working on a bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and France that would allow Filipino workers in France to obtain their legal working permits.
“This agreement would give undocumented Filipino workers in France a chance to legalize their stay. This will ensure that Filipinos already in France will be provided an avenue to get working permit as soon as they ask for it,” he said.
Separately, the two governments having been trying to hammer out since two years a labor agreement that aims to attract professionals like nurses and doctors, as well as those fashion designers and entrepreneurs, into France.
But the program has not been very successful because Filipinos are generally not proficient in the French language.
The program requires Filipinos to return to the Philippines after a couple of years to use the skills and knowledge they’ve gained in France in their home country.
For the past several years, the European Union has been trying to rationalize its migration policies and programs. Last year, it adopted the so-called Return Directive, detailing how undocumented migrants may be repatriated back to their homeland. This year, it passed the Employers Sanction Directive, which penalizes employers who employ
undocumented migrant workers.
According to EU estimates, there are more than 90,000 undocumented Filipino workers in Europe, mostly working as household service workers in Paris, Nice, Milan, Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona.–Veronica Uy, Inquirer.net
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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