Labor and Employment Acting Secretary Manuel G. Imson stated that due to Taiwan and Singapore’s continuing preferences for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the increase of OFW in the banking and finance sector of Singapore and the demand for English teachers in Taiwan are expected.

"I have been apprised by our POEA Market Updates that the opportunities in the said two host economies for OFWs who have the skills either in banking and finance or in the teaching of English are vibrant and promising," Imson said.

The Acting Secretary revealed that the banking job opportunities for OFWs in Singapore have been boosted by the fact that a significant number of Pinoys can be found in the banking/finance sector of that economy.

"Indeed, the majority of our OFWs productively employed in the banking and finance sectors of Singapore are chief executive officers (CEOs), investment bankers, and analysts," he added.

Meanwhile, the Labor Acting chief also stated that the Philippine Labor Center (PLC) in Taipei, Taiwan, had indicated that Taiwan, through its Ministry of Education (MOE), is now in the midst of a drive to attract more English language teachers due to the shortage of qualified teachers in elementary and junior schools.

Currently, Filipino teachers are paid NT$ 25,000 (US$778), and an additional NT$2,000 (US$62) after two or three months of employment, along with free roundtrip transportation/free board and lodging as standard provisions of the employment contract, the PLC said. Nevertheless, the pay is half that of foreign teachers who receive salaries ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$60,000 a month.

Imson stated that both Taiwan and Singapore have endured firmly as top host countries of OFWs, within the top 10 category, in the first semester of 2005. Taiwan ranked as the 5th top OFW destination, hiring 27,151 OFWs, while Singapore occupied the top 8th slot with 16,444 OFWs from January to July 2005.

"We look forward to sending more professionals and other world class workers to Taiwan in the coming years," Imson said, adding that the Philippine government is also looking forward to Taiwan's continuous cooperation in ensuring the welfare and protection of Filipino workers there.

Source: DOLE Information and Publication Service