The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) revealed that there is a significant drop in the number of deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from January to June last year.
The preliminary records of POEA said that the number of deployed OFWs during the first half of 2018 is 67% lower compared to the same time period in 2017.
There were only a total of 1.363 million OFWs who were deployed as compared to 2.044 million for the same period in 2017.
Out of that number, 1.025 million were deployed as land-based workers, which is 64% lower compared to 1.595 million for the same period in 2017.
Sea-based workers declined to 337,502 in January to June of 2018 from 449,643 the same period in 2017.
Recruitment consultant and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani said that the figures last year are quite alarming as the reduction in the deployment of household service workers would have a devastating effect on dollar remittances from OFWs.
Despite this, the Department of Labor and Employment said that the Philippine government were able to sign a deal with Thailand for the deployment of English teachers in the said country.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III also disclosed that Filipino teachers who will be hired under the program will receive 25,000 baht per month or P45,000, inclusive of housing allowance. The other benefits include personal accident insurance and round trip airfare and work permit fees which will be shouldered by the government of Thailand.
Aside from English teachers, Thailand is also opening job opportunities to foreign professionals in the field of engineering, architecture, medicine, accounting and dental medicine.
