The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said more than 500,000 job positions will be available during the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program by the end of the year.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, however, said the job posts might not suit OFWs.
“The workers in Kuwait are mostly domestic helpers, I think. So we’re talking about different types of workers here,” Pernia said.
He explained that jobs available are for skilled workers particularly construction workers, electricians, carpenters, and other jobs related to infrastructure.
This is the government’s promise to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) amid different labor issues in various countries.
This week, President Rodrigo Duterte urged OFWs in Kuwait to return to the Philippines amid the labor rift between the two countries.
An estimated 262,000 OFWs are in Kuwait, 67 percent of which are domestic helpers or household service workers.
Despite this, labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said he intends to give skill training programs for returning OFWs under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
However, the plan would not be easy, said migrant rights advocate Susan Ople.
“‘Yong iba sa kanila may trauma, ‘yong iba sa kanila ang iniisip nilang, ‘Paano ako makakaalis ulit?'” said Ople.
“Marami kasi sa kanilang mga nakabalik, ang immediate concern nila [is] how to make up for the lost in income. So, ‘yong iba niyan isipin nila, magte-train ako, ilang buwan ‘yan? Gaano katagal nakatengga?” she added.
