How are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the still-raging pandemic?
Several OFWs suddenly found themselves unemployed as the global pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of their employment to global market movements. Since the pandemic started, thousands of OFWs were forced to return to their homeland.
Despite this, the Social Security System (SSS) still recorded 1.34 million overseas Filipino worker members in May 2021 – an 11.5% increase from the same period in 2020. According to SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora Ignacio, the increase could be attributed to the worsening economic conditions under the COVID-19 pandemic.
To further discuss the worsening plight of OFWs in the past 5 years under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, especially during the pandemic, MovePH partnered with Ateneo de Manila University’s working group on migration (WGM) and the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) for a webinar entitled “LF: #OFWRights sa panahon ng pandemya.” The event is scheduled at 6 pm (Manila time) on Thursday, August 12.
During the webinar, members of the Ateneo WGM and CMA will be sharing their research and analysis of the policies enacted under the Duterte administration to help and support OFWs. We invited Hans Cacdac of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Shiella Estrada of Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers – Hong Kong for a panel discussion following the presentation.
The webinar will be hosted by Rappler’s Community head Jules Guiang and Carmel Abao of the Ateneo WGM.
Join the discussion by registering below.
– Rappler.com