1 million OFWs may lose jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic – DOLE

Repatriated OFWs arrive at the NAIA Terminal 2. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated one million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may end up jobless as a result of, and amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday.

“Ang worst case scenario natin ay mga 1 million OFWs ang mawawalan ng trabaho,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Thursday.

(In a worst case scenario, around 1 million OFWs may end up losing their jobs due to COVID-19).

Currently, the coronavirus crisis has affected the jobs of about 343,000 OFWs, added Bello.

He said that of this number, around 191,000 decided against returning home and will instead look for new jobs overseas.

Bello, however, assured that livelihood assistance will be extended to returning OFWs who will not be qualified for alternative employment once they return to the country.

“Sa kanila (OFWs), meron naman tayong nakahandang livelihood assistance para sa mga hindi pwede sa alternative employment. Magiging livelihood assistance na lang ang ipaparating natin sa kanila,” he said.

(We have prepared a livelihood assistance program for those who are not qualified for alternative employment. We will instead provide them with livelihood assistance.)

GSG