Advocacy group Migrante slammed the announcement of the Department of Migrant Workers that the deployment of overseas Filipino workers for 2023 has surpassed pre-pandemic level.
“The return of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) deployment to pre-pandemic levels is not something,” said Migrante in a statement.
The group said that the high number of deployment is yet another proof that after four years since COVID-19 hit the world.
“The Philippines continues to fail in creating decent jobs at home. It shows that the country under the Bongbong Marcos regime is still not developing its manufacturing and agriculture sectors and is therefore unable to provide employment to Filipinos,” the group added.
DMW OIC Hans Cacdac’s said that the spike in OFW deployment is a success.
“The 2.5 million overseas employment certificate (OEC) and passes issued by the government in 2023 translates to more than 6,800 Filipinos leaving the country each day. These figures only mean that the number of Filipinos who are forced to leave their families in the Philippines in order to find employment,” Migrante explained.
“What Cacdac does not mention is the increasing number of Filipinos who are victimized by illegal recruitment and human trafficking,” it added.
