Filipinos laid off in Taiwan now at 1,263

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipino workers who have lost their jobs in Taiwan since the start of the global financial crisis has reached 1,263, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) in Taipei said Thursday. A report by the Meco director for labor dated Dec. 2, 2008 said the workers were from 18 companies that have scaled down or shut down their operations. Most of the affected companies were from the electronics or textile sectors whose major markets are the US and other countries affected by the crisis, said Sabulao, who is also the representative of the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Taiwan. “Except for those which are still undergoing negotiations, all of those OFWs repatriated have received their employment-related benefits which include wages, separation pay, earned leaves and plane tickets. With regard to the plane tickets, not all (Taiwan companies) are able to provide (the airfare) in full but at least the company provides a certain amount," said Sabulao’s report. Contrary to a report by the advocacy group Migrante International, Sabulao said the Taiwanese companies that have shut down their operations “have been very supportive" of the plight of their laid-off workers. Sabulao’s report was addressed to Antonio I. Basilio, resident representative of Meco, the Philippines de facto embassy in Taiwan. In keeping with its “One China" policy, the Philippines officially does not have an embassy in Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. Despite the “setback," MECO said Taiwanese industries not hit hard by the crisis continue to hire overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Meco said the growth in new deployment of OFWs to Taiwan since the start of the year has already exceeded the target set by DOLE. Basilio the newly deployed include household service workers, caretakers, fishermen, construction workers, and professionals. Growth in job orders for OFWs in the first three quarters of 2008 was recorded at 26 percent, more than the DOLE’s growth target of 10% for the whole of 2008. In November alone, new hirings totaled 1,716 as against the 1,263 who lost their jobs in November, Meco said. There are an estimated 90,000 OFWs in Taiwan, of which about two-thirds are employed as factory workers. New job opportunities Meco said it is also seeking a greater share of employment opportunities for Filipino workers to be offered under Taiwan’s giant economic stimulus plan. Basilio said there are still employment opportunities and Meco is working closely with Taiwanese authorities “to ensure that these opportunities remain open and are hopefully expanded, so that we can at least mitigate the dislocation caused by the slowdown in the exports sector." "Taiwan will launch a new giant economic stimulus project, worth nearly NT$500 billion (about US$15 billion), to reinvigorate the domestic economy. The budget will include NT$82.9 billion in shopping vouchers to Taiwanese citizens but will mainly go to infrastructure projects, urban renewal, industry upgrading and incentives to investors. “We have asked the Taiwanese authorities to give priority to the rehiring of Filipino workers for these new projects. Likewise, the influx of tourists from Mainland China as a result of the opening of direct flights is also expected to boost the local economy," said Basilio. - GMANews.TV