SALAYSAY. In Need of Highly Skilled Workers

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1 In Need of Highly Skilled Workers The European Commission has adopted a directive in welcoming the so called "highly skilled workers". This directive will, however, enter into force in the EU territory when its legislative process is finalized. This policy highlights the principle of circular migration, which seeks to attract professionals in the EU while avoiding brain drain with developing countries. Eurostat projections indicate that in the EU, the total population is expected to decline by 2025, and the working age population by 2011.

2 Europe s population is "ageing and many jobs vacancies remain unfilled," said an EU press release. Analysis shows that the EU will need a highly-qualified workforce to sustain its economy. The Blue Card is Europe s answer to the US green card, which is expected to attract highly-skilled workers from third world or developing countries. Pinoys Reactions on EU Directive Some undocumented Pinoys welcome the idea of returning to the Philippines to have their papers processed by their legal employers. Pina P., who admitted being an illegal migrant for years, said she s in favor of the EU return directive and the issuance of the Blue Card. "Pabor ako dun sa sinasabi nila na kung may magde-declare sa 'yo, pwede kang umuwi ng Pilipinas. Mahirap kasi na wala kang papel. Di ka pwedeng makalabas-labas", she said. But there are some who consider the directive a trap for undocumented migrants. Merced O., an OFW who is legally working for a diplomat, said her friends are not 100% convinced of the directive. "Karamihan ng mga nakakausap ko,ayaw nila. Hindi sila pabor dun sa sinasabing umuwi muna kasi nga hindi 100% na makakabalik sila. Di pa naman kasi approved ang Blue Card na sinasabi nila", she lamented. The EU return directive may pose a problem to some undocumented Pinoys, but there are those who still consider this an opportunity for more professionals and highly-skilled Pinoy workers in the Philippines waiting for a chance to work legally in any country in Europe. (Pinoy Migration) Global Financial Crisis will hit Army of OFWs Published in News, Migrants on Octobe, 2008 There are few countries in the world where you will not find a Filipino worker. Even in tiny Iceland, one of the countries hardest hit by the financial crisis, there were 1,411 at last count. At any given time, about 10 percent of the Philippines 90 million population is hard at work outside the country. For years this vast army of workers has managed to keep the Philippine economy afloat with their remittances but all that could change as the global financial crisis starts to bite. Last year they sent home $14.4 billion, equivalent to 10 percent of the country s gross domestic product. The government had hoped that figure would exceed $15 billion this year.

3 But if the financial crisis continues to deepen, as many economists believe will happen, the impact on the Philippines could be severe. Overseas employment has been the Philippines escape valve for years, Benjamin Diokno, an economist and former Budget secretary, told Agence France Presse (AFP). Diokno warned: Just imagine if a significant number of these workers where to come home, where a third of labor force is about of a job or underemployed. The Department of Labor and Employment has already estimated that some 50,000 Filipinos could lose their jobs in the United States alone, mostly in the financial sector. More than two million Filipinos live and work in the United States and account for some 30 percent of remittances. Last year, according to government data, Filipinos could be found working in 202 countries around the world. Filipinos man a third of the world s merchant shipping, drive trucks in war torn Iraq and work on construction sites in the Gulf and Middle East. Hospitals in Australia, Canada and the United States employ thousands of Filipino nurses and doctors. More than one million Filipinos live and work in Saudi Arabia alone, from doctors and engineers to laborers. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, about 40,000 Filipino nurses work in Britain s National Health Service, half of whom are already permanent residents or British citizens. In Hong Kong and Singapore they look after the homes and children of local residents while in Macau they can be found dealing cards in the casinos. The gaming boom there has attracted more than 23,000 Filipinos, forcing the Philippine government to open a consulate in the former Portuguese colony. Hotels throughout Asia employ Filipinos at all levels from reception to management and even outgoing US President George W. Bush employs a Filipino cook in the White House. Rene Ofreneo, former dean of the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations, said the financial crisis would hit OFWs the hardest and may cause remittances to fall. He told a conference in Manila recently that the crisis will spare no market where OFWs are usually deployed and will, in time, impact on remittances. A decline in remittances will cause consumption spending to slow. Restaurants will be hit, and consumer goods, he said. Political commentator Antonio Abaya said Filipino overseas workers cut across all sectors of the labour market from professional to unskilled workers. According to government data, more than 30 percent of OFWs are laborers and unskilled workers..

4 FKFFB s Contribution to Community Development FEMINISTISKT FORUM FKFFB (Filippinska Kultur- & Fritids föreningen i Botkyrka) or Philippine Cultural Association of Botkyrka continues increasing its contribution to Community Development. Recently, the association together with some organizations in Botkyrka successfully organized FEMINISTISKT FORUM in Botkyrka at Hallunda Folkets Hus in Hallunda last October 4. There were around 180 participants, mostly with burning desire on dealing issues and changes about women s rights and equality. It was indeed a good start for Forum in Botkyrka. Part of the program on that day were information & literature exhibit, musical entertainment, forum and lectures by Gudrun Scxhyman, Amineh Kakabaveh, Marie Sveland and Yvonne Hirdman. HÄLSOVECKA During this health week (V. 44) in Fittja, FKFFB (Filippinska Kultur- & Fritids föreningen i Botkyrka) or Philippine Cultural Association of Botkyrka in cooperation with Fittja Föreningsråd (Council of Associations in Fittja) offers several activities to promote health, which includes: Kulturvandring, lecture on FETMA and OVER WEIGHT 31/10 at 18:00 20:00 at Förvägen 5, FITTJA and on Sunday 2 nd Nov at Kundcenter, Krögarvägen 4, Promotion of Vegetarian Food with tasting, Yoga and Tea- social gathering. Members are cordially invited! Free!

5 INFORMATION AND INVITATION 31 st October (Friday) at 18:00 20:00 lecture in Swedish on FETMA och ÖVERVIKT Free! 2 nd November (Sunday) at Kundcenter, Krögarvägen 4 13:00 16:00 Promotion of Vegetarian Food with tasting, Yoga and Tea- social gathering. Members are cordially invited! Free! Also there will be members meeting after the activities. COMMUNITY DAY IN HALLUNDA NORSBORG 27 th September, HALLUNDA CENTRUM INFO DAY & Social Gathering 18 th October, Föreningslokal, Bragesvägen 17, Norsborg