BANGKOK—The Philippines’ “heavy reliance” on remittances of migrant workers—reaching $19 billion last year—has been crippling its domestic productivity for many years, said a regional official of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Gyorgy Sziraczki, senior economist of the Regional Economic and Social Analysis Unit of the ILO office here, said the increasing remittances “reduces pressure on the government to come up with reforms on the [labor] market structures.”
“Sending Filipinos overseas has resulted in a brain drain and a loss of some educated and trained people from the Philippines,” he said. “This has resulted in major social and economic cost to the Philippines, including a weakening of the country’s competitiveness, although the extent of this has not yet really been qualified.”
Sziraczki was speaking at an ILO media course on International Labor Standards at the UN regional office here for journalists in Asia and the Pacific.
The Philippines has the most number of ILO Conventions ratified, which should have made it attain International Labor Standards. However, ILO officials believe these ratifications “remain on paper” lacking legislative interpretation and implementation.
“When dollars come in through remittances sent by overseas workers, the question is to what extent they contribute to higher living standards and stronger economic development,” he said.
He said the remittances uplift the lives of Filipinos in terms of sending children to school, as well as health care. “[But] what is less clear is to what extent they contribute toward economic progress, for example, in investments to start new businesses.”
The Philippines “scores well” in terms of labor force, educated labor, as well as labor-market efficiency and innovation, but the economic and social performance of the Philippines is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia. “In terms of productivity growth, it is at the bottom compared with many other countries [in Southeast Asia],” he said. –Estrella Torres / Reporter, Businessmirror
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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