The economy of the United States of America is experiencing a financial crisis that had shaken the global economy. However as the whole world is worried about the possible negative effects of this crisis, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can be calm and still expect a happy Christmas this December.

During a press briefing in Malacañang, the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Marianito Roque said, “The situation remains stable on the overseas employment front, and we do not expect any reduction in demand for overseas Filipinos especially in the Middle East."

The labor secretary was able to say this because reports from consulates of different countries said that there is no sign that recruitment of OFWs will be reduced. In United Arab Emirates (UAE) for example, many companies still wants to hire OFWs.

Careertunity Company, in cooperation with ABS-CBN Middle East will even hold a job fair in Knowledge Village, Dubai on November 1. The job fair will open job opportunities for marketing people, merchandisers, hotel staff, engineers, architects, skilled workers, etc.

 "It’s not that bad, so to speak, but of course, lots of people have lost their jobs. But we are doing our best to ensure that these people who are qualified, who are talented, who are well deserving for the job, we will try to bring the opportunity in front of them," says Bharti Jatti, general manager of Careertunity.

According to officials of Careertunity, OFWS are preferred by employers in Dubai. They also plan to conduct recruitment in Buraimi, Oman and Kish island in Iran, because a lot of stranded Filipinos waiting for their return visa are staying there.

Other countries in the Middle East such as Qatar still need workers for their

oil and gas industry, construction, hotel and hospitals. The construction industry of Saudi Arabia will still need professional and skilled workers for their various infrastructure projects. Job opportunities are also available for nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the estimated 95,000 OFWs in Europe are assured of their jobs because according to the European Union (EU), no mass displacement of Filipino workers will happen.

The head of the delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, said that even if migration situation in Europe is “becoming tighter,” there will be no displacement of legal foreign migrant workers, especially those in the healt-care sector.

MacDonald said, “I don’t see any particular reason for outflux of Filipino workers from Europe. The situation is becoming tighter, but the tightening would have no direct impact on overseas Filipino workers.”

Remittances of OFWs are also not likely to drop even if EU is implementing controlled policy on its financial institutions to cope with the global crisis. The EU also wants to develop a system that would make the sending of remittances “safer, cheaper and easier

MacDonald said, “I don’t see any reason why that should have any particular impact—positive or negative—on the remittances of Filipino workers in Europe. We want to facilitate the ease of sending remittances….We recognize the importance of sending remittances in the development of their countries.”

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