Migrants

A migrant is a person who is moving from one place to another. Someone may be considered a
migrant regardless of a person's legal status, the cause of migration (voluntary or involuntary),
or how long they intend to stay.

 emigrant vs. immigrant: An emigrant is someone who emigrates—moves away from

a country. An immigrant is someone who immigrates—moves to a different country.
Both words can apply to the same person—a person must first emigrate to immigrate.
However, these terms are often used to distinguish different groups, such as when
tracking how many people are moving to a country and how many are moving away.

 immigrant vs. migrant: Migrant can generally refer to a person who moves from one
place to another (or back and forth). It’s often used more specifically to refer to
a migrant worker (who moves from place to place for work) or as another way of
referring to an immigrant  (which implies permanent relocation), especially one who may
be subject to removal from the country they are trying to relocate to.

 migrant vs. refugee: Refugee specifically implies that a person is fleeing their country

for their safety, often due to war or political persecution. This may be the case for
many migrants, but the word itself does not imply this, and the term is used more
broadly.

 refugee vs. asylum seeker: Asylum seeker specifically refers to a person who applies

for refuge or asylum in a foreign country or its embassy, especially for political reasons.
Some refugees may be asylum seekers, but not all asylum seekers necessarily consider
themselves refugees.

OFW, NATAGPUANG PATAY AT SUNOG ANG KATAWAN SA DISYERTO SA KUWAIT

Middle east-kuwait

Drivers of migration: why do people move?

1. Higher Income and Benefits

Many Filipinos believe that when they go abroad, their salaries are high. For everyone, when we
hear dollars, yen, euros, dinars, and other foreign currency, this is also a signal when we
convert it to pesos. We assure that more than what we cannot earn in the Philippines, sadly,
they don't feel to all our Overseas Filipino workers. Let's face it: the Philippines' current salary
structure is one of the lowest in the region. Many Filipinos cannot make ends meet their salaries
expectation in their regular job, so the lure of getting a higher wage, coupled with a better
benefits package with the job, makes it a no-brainer for some.
GLOBAL MIGRATION: OVERSEAS FILIPINO EMPLOYMENT

At present, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked abroad at any time
during the period April to September 2018 was estimated at 2.3 million. One out of four OFWs
worked in Saudi Arabia, which remained to be the top destination of OFWs in April to
September 2018. OFWs who worked in United Arab Emirates comprised 15.7 percent. Hong
Kong, Kuwait, Taiwan and Qatar were the other popular destinations of OFWS. Among
occupation groups, elementary occupation was the biggest group of OFWs. Other large
occupation groups were the service and sales workers, and plant and machine operators and
assemblers. More than half of the female OFWs were in elementary occupations. Among the
male OFWs, the largest groups were plant and machine operators and assembler workers.

Countries with the Most OFWs

1. As of July 2022, the Middle East remains in the top spot, with more than 439,200
workers in Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, and Qatar.

The Minister of Saudi Arabia has assured the Philippine government that foreign workers
are protected amidst COVID-19 threats.

Filipino workers have secured employment in Saudi Arabia in construction, domestic

help, and nursing.

2. Next on the list is the United Kingdom, home to a sizeable 167,400 Filipinos, which is
also one of the countries with the highest-paying jobs.

3. Meanwhile, Australia has offered employment for different Filipino skilled workers.

Most of the Filipino community in Australia has decided to migrate with their families in
pursuit of better means of living. As of the recent 2021 Census data released last
December 2022, there are over 39,600 Filipinos in Australia. 

4. Without traveling to the other side of the world, Asia Pacific countries are also an
appealing option for our fellow citizens. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia,
Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are top destinations, with at least
100,000 Filipinos living and working in each of these places.

1.    Poverty

Poverty is an issue for a country like the Philippines. Its effects drive many Filipinos to find
opportunities for employment abroad. Ordinarily, if someone could not find a suitable source of
employment in his/her own country, then there will be no other choice but to seek "greener
pastures" abroad. Because of these ill conditions, Filipinos were left with no choice but to go
abroad, leaving their families the hopes of having better situations. It can also be observed by
this reality that Filipinos see hope in other countries, which kind of hope is absent in their own
country.

Ang kahirapan ay isang isyu para sa isang bansang tulad ng Pilipinas. Ang mga epekto nito ay
nagtutulak sa maraming Pilipino na maghanap ng mga oportunidad para sa trabaho sa ibang
bansa. Karaniwan, kung ang isang tao ay hindi makahanap ng isang angkop na mapagkukunan
ng trabaho sa kanyang sariling bansa, wala nang ibang pagpipilian kundi ang maghanap ng
"mas luntiang pastulan" sa ibang bansa. Dahil sa masasamang kalagayan na ito, ang mga
Pilipino ay naiwan na walang pagpipilian kundi ang mangibang-bansa, na iniiwan sa kanilang
mga pamilya ang pag-asa na magkaroon ng mas magandang sitwasyon. Mapapansin din sa
realidad na ito na ang mga Pilipino ay nakakakita ng pag-asa sa ibang bansa, kung aling uri ng
pag-asa ang wala sa sariling bansa.

2.    Unemployment and Low Wages

Unemployment and low wages are prevalent in the Philippines. This predicament is being
carried even by a college graduate in the country, more so, by those who failed to finish their
education. As a result, the Filipino worker will be compelled to search for income opportunities
abroad.

Laganap ang kawalan ng trabaho at mababang sahod sa Pilipinas. Ang suliraning ito ay
dinadala maging ng isang nagtapos ng kolehiyo sa bansa, higit pa, ng mga hindi nakapagtapos
ng kanilang pag-aaral. Dahil dito, mapipilitan ang manggagawang Pilipino na maghanap ng mga
oportunidad sa pagkakakitaan sa ibang bansa.

In-demand jobs that normally should have a fair compensation, such as nurses, engineers,
accountants, and other professionals, are inadequately paid, as compared with the
compensation that are waiting for these professionals abroad. Even non-skilled workers, such
as housemaids and other laborers, are well compensated abroad than the professionals in the
Philippines.

New graduates face the problems of high unemployment rate and less job opportunities as well
as low average salary and benefits offered by local employers in the country. This is not to
mention that job competition increases in the country. Given these, Filipino applicants became
desperate to have jobs for lower salaries and not enjoy benefits as long as there is security of
tenure. In effect, most of the employers and businessmen exploit such situation that keeps
their businesses earn more profit at the lowest possible costs.

3.    Enhancement of Professional Skills

Filipinos also go abroad for their professional development. This is due to the reality that having
a global experience gives them a career edge among any other Filipino professionals left
working in the country.

Ang mga Pilipino ay nag-aabroad din para sa kanilang propesyonal na pag-unlad. Ito ay dahil sa
katotohanan na ang pagkakaroon ng pandaigdigang karanasan ay nagbibigay sa kanila ng
career edge sa iba pang mga Filipinong propesyonal na naiwang nagtatrabaho sa bansa.

Abroad, Filipinos deal with different people from different religions, races, and cultures, and this
gives them a unique advantage. Plus, the kinds of opportunities for professional growth abroad
are aplenty as compared to the Philippines.

This reinforces the findings of Natividad (2012) that Filipinos go abroad because of the
enhancement of career and professional marketability globally wherein it is stated that
nowadays, the world is very competitive that having international experience gives Filipinos
bigger career advantage among other professionals.

Ang mga Pilipino ay nag-aabroad dahil sa pagpapahusay ng career at professional marketability

sa buong mundo kung saan nakasaad na sa panahon ngayon, ang mundo ay very competitive
na ang pagkakaroon ng international experience ay nagbibigay sa mga Filipino ng mas malaking
career advantage sa iba pang mga propesyonal.

4.    Curiosity

According to Natividad (2012), one of the reasons why Filipinos work abroad is to have the
experience to travel and experience abroad. Working abroad gives the perfect opportunity for
the working Filipino to travel and experience life overseas.

Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nagtatrabaho ang mga Pilipino sa ibang bansa ay upang
magkaroon ng karanasan sa paglalakbay at karanasan sa ibang bansa. Ang pagtatrabaho sa
ibang bansa ay nagbibigay ng perpektong pagkakataon para sa nagtatrabahong Pilipino na
makapaglakbay at maranasan ang buhay sa ibang bansa.

Filipinos’ personal ambitions or goals since childhood can be also drawn out as a reason why did
they choose to work abroad. It gives them the opportunity and the confidence to pursue and
realize their own ambitions. It may not seem to be a valid reason but the same should be
counted as in reality, working abroad gives Filipinos the edge to earn more and afford them
more possibilities of advancement than what they can find in the Philippines.
Ang mga personal na ambisyon o layunin ng mga Pilipino mula pagkabata ay maaari ding ilabas
bilang dahilan kung bakit pinili nilang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Nagbibigay ito sa kanila ng
pagkakataon at kumpiyansa na ituloy at maisakatuparan ang kanilang sariling mga ambisyon.
Maaaring hindi ito isang wastong dahilan ngunit ito rin ang dapat bilangin dahil sa katotohanan,
ang pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa ay nagbibigay sa mga Pilipino ng kalamangan upang kumita
ng higit at bigyan sila ng mas maraming posibilidad ng pag-unlad kaysa sa kung ano ang
makikita nila sa Pilipinas.

Common Risks/Costs of Overseas Filipino Employment

1.    Abuse and Violence

Both male and female OFWs are at risk of the possibility of violence, abuse, trafficking, and
false accusations. Further, the possibility for OFWs to be terminated because of failure to meet
the standard for proper work set by their employers is more likely to occur.

Parehong nasa panganib ang mga lalaki at babaeng OFW sa posibilidad ng karahasan, pang-
aabuso, trafficking, at mga maling akusasyon. Dagdag pa, ang posibilidad na ma-terminate ang
mga OFW dahil sa hindi pagtupad sa pamantayan para sa tamang trabahong itinakda ng
kanilang mga amo ay mas malamang na mangyari.

The tendency of foreigners to treat Filipinos as lowly contributes to the set of fears of the
OFWs. When OFWs suffer discrimination, the lack of motivation to complete their tasks occurs.
The loss of morale and the loss of productivity also take place. Also, the lack of protection for
OFWs contributes to the said lingering fear.

Ang ugali ng mga dayuhan na tratuhin ang mga Pilipino bilang mababa ay nakakatulong sa
hanay ng mga takot ng mga OFW. Kapag ang mga OFW ay dumaranas ng diskriminasyon, ang
kawalan ng motibasyon upang tapusin ang kanilang mga gawain ay nangyayari. Ang pagkawala
ng moral at pagkawala ng produktibidad ay nagaganap din. Gayundin, ang kawalan ng
proteksyon para sa mga OFW ay nag-aambag sa nasabing matagal na takot.

The most common work fears of Overseas Filipino Workers are the possibilities of abuse and
violence that can lead to severe physical injuries and even death.
Ang pinakakaraniwang kinatatakutan sa trabaho ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers ay ang mga
posibilidad ng pang-aabuso at karahasan na maaaring humantong sa matinding pisikal na
pinsala at maging kamatayan.

2.    Weakened Family Ties

Children who are left behind are usually not guided properly. Oftentimes, both parents are
working abroad and the children would only be left under the guidance of their grandparents
and relatives. Long separation creates a huge gap between the parents and children. The effect
of parents' departures on toddlers and pre-teens are worse.

Karamihan sa mga batang naiiwan ay hindi na nagagabayan ng maayos lalo na kung parehong
magulang ay nagtatrabaho abroad. Sa ganitong situation hindi narin nila nasusubaybayan at
nasusuportahan ng maayos ang paglaki ng kanilang anak kung saan nagdudulot ito ng maaring
ikakasama ng loob ng kanilang anak.

Ang mahabang paghihiwalay ay lumilikha ng malaking agwat sa pagitan ng mga magulang at

mga anak kung saan hindi na nila nasusubaybayan at nagagabayan ng maayos ang kanilang
mga anak

In addition, the marital relationship between the parents is put at risk. Abroad, several extra -
marital relations can result due to the distance brought about by overseas employment. As a
result, the marital bond breaks leading to the destruction of the family, again leading to the
detriment of the children.

Bilang karagdagan, ang relasyon ng mag-asawa sa pagitan ng mga magulang ay inilalagay sa

panganib. Sa ibang bansa, maraming extra-marital relations ang maaaring magresulta dahil sa
layo na dala ng trabaho sa ibang bansa. Dahil dito, naputol ang ugnayan ng mag-asawa na
humahantong sa pagkawasak ng pamilya, na humahantong muli sa kapinsalaan ng mga anak.