Workers

Concern for workers

November 4, 2022 People's Tonight 443 views

DESPITE government efforts to meet the employment needs of the mushrooming population, more and more Filipinos continue to look for jobs in foreign lands.

Not due to lack of employment opportunities in this poverty-stricken but natural resources-rich country, which is one of the world’s major manpower exporters.

It is because of the insultingly low pay of workers in the government and private sector.

We often hear reports of fathers or even mothers seeking employment in the Middle East, particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Hong Kong and South Korea.

Even college graduates have difficulty in finding stable and high-paying jobs not only in Metropolitan Manila, the country’s premier region, but in other parts of the country.

“Kaya nga napipilitan ang marami nating kababayan na maghanap na lang ng trabaho sa ibang bansa, lalo na sa Estados Unidos, England, Canada at Germany,” said a farmer.

“Talagang hindi mo mapag-aaral sa kolehiyo ang isa, dalawa o tatlo mong anak sa llit ng suweldo ng isang manggagawa sa Pilipinas,” lamented the farmer with five children.

But it is to the credit of President Marcos that concerned government offices and agencies are doing everything to enhance the living conditions of Filipino workers.

Admittedly, however, it takes time to come up with various measures and programs aimed at addressing all the problems confronting members of the working force.

In the meantime, the authorities waste no time in providing moral, legal and financial help to Filipino migrant workers who find themselves in trouble in foreign lands.

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