Filipino domestics’ share in Taiwan dwindling fast

The demand for Filipino domestic helpers in Taiwan had dropped dramatically, with Indonesians and Vietnamese taking a bigger share of the market in that country mainly as a result of the direct hiring program pushed by the government.

Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) chief of assistance to nationals Carlo Aquino said what used to be a sector dominated by Filipino domestic helpers is now shared by foreign workers majority from Indonesia and Vietnam.

Gradually, Aquino said their number shrunk to 20,000 from a peak level of 60,000 in the last five years.

Among the factors which have discouraged Taiwanese employers from hiring Filipinos is the discrepancy on the amount of brokers fee among Filipinos as against other foreign workers. Broker’s fee for Filipinos amount to 60,000 Taiwanese dollars payable for three years as against NT160,000 for foreign workers.

Because Taiwanese employers are dependent on brokers, Aquino explained they would rather commission brokers to look for house helpers.

But the current direction of placement for Filipino helpers may even work to the advantage of Filipinos seeking employment in Taiwan, he added.

“We will be happy if all of them will be placed in the manufacturing sector, it will be better for us Filipinos to dominate the manufacturing sector and let other foreign workers dominate the domestic service sector,” he said.

The government through Meco is pushing direct hiring of employers to lessen placement fees and other requirements.

Despite the shift in the movement of domestic helpers in Taiwan, overall demand for Filipno workers have started to improve since the height of the global recession in late 2008.

Newly-seated director for labor affairs Reydeluz Conferido, meanwhile, reported that based on the latest statistics, the number of Filipino workers in Taiwan have gone up to 70,000 as of November or 10,000 more from the third quarter figures of 60,000.

Since October of 2008, over 5,000 workers were either laid off or were forced to take a vacation leave while majority were allowed to continue working but at reduced working hours. He said, however, that out of the 5,000 affected workers, 2,000 were already reinstated.

With regard to workers facing legal cases or with problematic stay, Meco is continously assiating over 500 workers who are now jailed in Taiwan. Half of these to 212 are detained in Taipei. –Ayen Infante, Daily Tribune