DOLE: More OFWs coming home for good

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A new trend of reverse migration is being seen by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) expected to return to the country to work and stay for good.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has expressed optimism more OFWs could be lured back to the Philippines with the lucrative jobs now available in the country.

Baldoz said many local companies, particularly in the tourism and entertainment sectors, now provide compensations and benefits comparable to what Filipino workers are used to receiving abroad.

She particularly cited the development of a gaming complex in Pasay City, which has been attracting Filipinos working in casinos in Macau.

“I think we are seeing a rise in the entertainment industry, within that sector… we are seeing a reverse migration because of the high-end quality jobs being offered by these firms,” she said.

The labor chief also said that apart from the entertainment and tourism sectors, the government’s economic cluster is also looking at enticing more manufacturing firms to invest in the Philippines.

“I think the momentum for the economic team that the President normally brings on his official travels is to really focus on manufacturing firms as a top priority investment because of the long-term and more stable jobs they offer workers,” she said.

Recently, the labor department inked an agreement with the Department of Agriculture to promote agribusiness as part of the National Reintegration Program for OFWs.

The DOLE said it would make available the P2-billion OFW Reintegration Program for OFW ventures in agriculture or fisheries, either for business expansion or start-up operations, subject to the program’s implementing rules and regulations.—Tina G. Santos