Labor Migration in The Philippines: an Issue with Various Outcomes

Labor migration in the Philippines has been a significant phenomenon for decades, with millions of Filipinos leaving their home country in search of better employment opportunities and economic stability abroad. In this research paper four articles about labour migration and working abroed are analysed as this migration trend has shaped the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the Philippines, impacting both the individuals who migrate and the society they leave behind. 

Review of Related Literature: Working Abroad and the Issue of Labour Migration

The first article called 'Shortage of construction workers traced to low pay, poor access to certification' by Analou De Vera. The article states that the Philippines has many skilled and/or certified laborers, but many of them end up migrating soon after acquiring their training or certification. Among the four reasons given by  TUCP President Raymond Mendoza as to why skilled workers choose to leave the country is the “meager salary” that skilled workers receive in the country. They are looked down upon by other members of society, and the importance of their work is not recognized by fellow Filipinos. This is what leads them to migrate and work abroad, thus adding to the labor migration numbers. The current minimum wage is not enough to make workers stay and work locally, and many of them aren’t even paid the mandated minimum wage, which is why they opt to work abroad where they will be able to enjoy many benefits just after training.

The second article, 'A Year of Big Talk, Band-Aids and Business-As-Usual for OFWs and Families' talks about Duterte’s promise to curb forced migration by ending contractualization of workers. However, the Philippine economy is not performing well under Duterte’s administration, and skilled workers continue to be forced out of the country to find work. OFWs have little to no reason to return to the country and seek job opportunities locally simply because it is difficult to do so. According to the article, the IBON foundation estimated that “11.5 million Filipinos are without work or still without work because of the poor quality of jobs.” Further, the DOLE Order 174 that was meant to solve workers’ problems was exposed to actually worsen the current situation of unemployment and low-quality job opportunities in the country. The article also suggests that the government incentivizes the return of skilled OFWs and the prevention of labor migration by increasing the minimum wage for laborers to Php. 750.00. It is stated that OFWs would like to return to the country if their.

The research named 'The Impact of a Skilled Labor Shortage in Construction' by Tyler Riddell studies the labor shortage in the construction industry due to the workers’ fear of the volatility of the industry and their desire for job security, as well as the decreased focus on trades and apprenticeship training. This shortage has led to increased safety concerns and rising construction costs. The solution to this problem is to reach out to the younger generation to spark their interest in the trade and to invest in training programs. The acute shortage in skilled labor has caused poaching to become a popular sport, both within a country and from the outside. In the Philippines, young people undergo training only to be enticed overseas by higher wages and better working conditions. The effects of this brain drain are felt in the manufacturing and construction industries as workers within these industries are less qualified and experienced in doing their jobs and as a result are less competent in performing what is asked of them.

The fourth article to review is 'Philippines ranks 9th in global migrants with 5 million abroad' written by Danica M. in 2016 studies the effects of Filipino global migrants to economic benefit and brain drain. Migrants improve the global market MGI estimates that in 2015 the world’s 247 million cross-border migrants made an absolute contribution to global output of roughly $6.7 trillion. They contributed 9.4 percent of global GDP (gross domestic product), despite making up just 3.4 percent of the world’s population,” the report said. Though reasons for migrations is to find higher paying work with the explicit intention of supporting the families they leave behind -- and these financial flows are often significant. And the statistics support that immigrants do earn more abroad. Today immigrants tend to earn 20 to 30 percent less than native-born workers,” said MGI, which projected an additional $800 to $1 trillion boost worldwide if countries narrowed the wage gap to 5-10%.Furthermore while we talk about the benefits of there are also negative effects on immigrants who work abroad one of them being brain drain according to MGI, one of the problems faced by developing nations with regards to human capital was brain drain, with poor regions like sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia losing a third to a half of their college graduates, especially professionals, a trend that could cause major gaps. The Philippines has a great solution to brain drain especially with nurses ,Philippines known for its amount of nurses who decide to work abroad has a sophisticated system of high-quality private education that helps to educate low-income women and open a career path for them. Large numbers of nurses stay after their education, and today the Philippines has more trained nurses per capita at home. 

Conclusion

This strive for working abroad has developed a labor migration issue in the Philippines. Nowadays it is a complex problem with multifaceted implications. It reflects the aspirations of individuals seeking better economic opportunities and the socio-economic realities of the country. While it brings economic benefits through remittances, it also poses challenges for families and society as a whole. Balancing the need to protect the welfare of Filipino migrants and promote sustainable development within the country remains an ongoing endeavor for the Philippine government.