Challenges Faced by OFWs Amidst COVID-19

I. Body/ Related Literature
The researcher have come across to the various literature and
presented the relevant outcomes with respect of the present study
Lisbe (2013) elucidates that, the Philippines is one of the country
where numerous people are working from the different parts of the world.
They are specifically called as Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW’s who are
residing or employed from outside the country.
OFW remittances have assured a positive impact on the country’s
economical parameter specifically, on the foreign exchange. According to the
World Bank (2017) The remittances go straight to the families and relatives
with the purpose of improving the quality of life. It is also said that the
country had received 28.4 billion US dollars in 2015 that helps to sustain
and retain the country’s domestic growth.
As per the views of Money (2019) OFWs are the “strong pillars of the
Philippine Economy”. According to the literature view, Philippines highly
depends on remittances sent by millions of OFWs. In the opinion of Ariate
(2015) OFW’s has contributed towards the betterment of economy for
Philippines. However, large number of sacrifices has been made because of
the families they left behind that are unduly affected.
According to National Center for Immunization and Respiratory
Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases (November 2021) COVID-19
which was caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. The virus has been detected
and originated in Wuhan, China in the year 2019. The first official case was
recorded on 31st of December 2019 (World Health Organization, 2019).
Asis (2020) has revealed that, According to the article of International
Organization for Migration (IOM) 2020, 75% drop in the deployment of OFWs
was noted in the assessment of COVID-19 Impact on Overseas Filipino
Workers in 2021. The travel restrictions, lock-downs and quarantines in many
countries in the world results in closing the door for Filipinos in order to work
in abroad and for OFW’s who went for vacation.
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Elflein (2022) elucidates that, In March 2022, there have been an
estimated 446 million cases of COVID-19 in worldwide has been found. It
clearly assured the impacts over everyone around the world specifically on
the Overseas Filipino Workers.
When COVID-19 has been spread in all over the world, the effects were
also much more noticeable among overseas Filipino workers worldwide in
terms of losing their jobs and incomes, repatriation and health.
The COVID-19 virus doesn’t choose it victims whether the individual is
poor or rich. (DOLE, 2021) said that, In January 2021, there were about
12,000 Filipinos abroad who were infected with COVID-19 while almost 4,000
deaths were recorded. Majority of COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad
are based in the Middle East (7,844 infections and 3,697 deaths), followed by
Europe and Americas and the Asia Pacific. The health risk is Higher to those
OFW’s who are undocumented or TNT migrants because lack of access to
healthcare, making them most vulnerable and unprotected.
According to Meed.com (2022), The number of Covid-19 cases in the
Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region reached 19,140,378 on 8 March
2022. Countries in the GCC account for 19 per cent (3,527,519) of all
regional cases. In Qatar, there was 358,418 confirmed cases which also
includes the OFW’s.
In April 2021, according to Department of Labor and Employment has
been revealed that, due to the effects of COVID 19, Filipino migrants or
OFW’s loss their jobs. Total of 645, 071 fellow kabayans were affected by the
pandemic. It has been said that 502, 581 OFW’s repatriated to their
hometowns and the OFW’s who choose to stay on site asked for a cash
assistance to DOLE (stranded overseas, land and sea-based OFW’S), (DOLE,
2020).
When an OFW loss his job it leaves a big impact on the family’s
economic condition. Thus, the flow of remittances slowed down during the
pandemic.
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In the 2020 First Quarter Consumer Expectations Survey (BSP, 2020)
shown that, most of the OFW’s households allotted the remittances to food,
water & electricity and other basic household need. Other priorities included
education, medical expenses, and debt payments. Losing a job has created a
sense of self-pity to OFWs along with creating the tension among their
families. When the COVID-19 cases decreased and the restrictions has also
been reduced and situation become normal at that time, Secondary effects
of Overseas Filipino workers losing a job is the extended repayment of loans
acquired during the years of loss or reduced income and the need to adopt
the new normal way of working and life style.
As per the views of PinayExpat (2020) every OFW’s have different
stories and struggle based on their conditions. However, amidst of COVID-19,
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) have a drastic story and even they made a
way to survive. Some of the employers implemented the policy of work from
home for their employees. As a result, this has assured positive effect
because of it as it will reduce the chance of being infected by COVID-19. The
downfall of Working from Home is that the salary might not be in full
amount, electricity consumption will increase. Mostly, OFW’s are staying in
shared apartment making them to set up a temporary work station without
disturbing their fellow housemates. The full day of work but not on full wage,
most companies are taking advantage of this situation that is really unfair for
the employee/OFW’s. The most common is the “NO WORK, NO PAY”, the
OFW’s mostly rely on their monthly salary to pay off the bills in the
Philippines and their daily expenses abroad specifically the house rent and
food.
In the opinion of Gita-Carlos (2021), the COVID-19 have assured a deep
impact on OFW’s. However, it will not stop them to make a living. Fernando
Robles Jr., a florist in Kuwait said that, he feels safe while working in Arab
nation since the strict health protocols has been implemented.
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