A large percentage of Filipinos who go abroad says that it’s all about earning bigger and getting a better salary abroad. They toil and leave their loved ones in exchange for a promise of a better life afterwards. In a recent series of public consultations with OFWs and their families, it revealed that some of the OFWs come back home with almost nothing.

How did this happen? The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that “Based on consultations, many OFWs send their money to their families and other relatives who, most of the time, become too dependent and don’t want to work anymore” Furthermore, they spend on furniture and buy expensive but generally useless things or lend their money and don’t get their investments back.

This report has pushed for DOLE to expand the scope of the government’s reintegration program with the mission of re-orienting OFWs as well as their families spend their money wisely and put it in good investments.

Labor Undersecretary Susan Ople said “At least six months before returning home, OFWs would be asked to attend a life-planning session so they could identify immediate and medium-term goals, as well as other options” These life planning sessions will be held at Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) of their respective countries with trained counselors speaking for the soon to be launched program of DOLE “ Sa Iyong Pagbabalik”.

She added that the DOLE would join hands with the private sector, including business groups that are willing to offer services and products to enable Filipino workers to expand their financial horizons.

Try also this Article Simple Financial Tips for OFWs .