Fast Recovery of Taiwan Gives Opportunity Again to OFWs

Good news keeps on pouring for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan as the country’s fast recovery from the global crisis gives another opportunity to the Fililipino workers.

Philippine labor attaché Reydeluz D. Conferido of the Manila Economical and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan revealed that at least 40 percent of the 5,000 displaced Filipino workers in the country at the height of the global crisis last year are now back to work and prospects for deployment are getting better following a positive outlook for this export-oriented economy.

“Total deployment has reached 70,000 in all from 60,000 OFWs here last year,” Conferido said during a talk with visiting Filipino reporters over the weekend.

Conferido added that the electronic industry in Taiwan has finally recovered sfter suffering from severe downfall last year. Electronics is Taiwan’s biggest exports and where most OFWs work.

Of the 70,000 OFWs in Taiwan, 40,000 are factory workers in electronic manufacturing industry while 20,000 are in social services such as caregivers, caretakers, nursing aids and domestic helpers. 10,000 Filipinos work in other sectors such as construction, agriculture and fishery.

“This augurs well for our better employment prospects next year,” Conferido said.

In terms of economic benefits, the workers in the manufacturing sector receive higher wages compared to those in other occupations groups such as those in domestic and health services, agriculture and fishery, and construction, since the former enjoy overtime work opportunities, which add to their monthly income.

The minimum wage in Taiwan for the manufacturing, agriculture and fishery, construction and nursing aid sectors is NT$17,280 or about P24,192 a month while the household service workers and caretakers receive NT$15,840 or about P22,176.