Labor Migration in a Nutshell: Why Are OFWs (Still) Our Modern-Day Heroes?

Vilma Santos as Josie, in Anak (2000)

Labor migration has long existed as a global phenomenon that has impacted the world regarding economic growth and the political arena, society, and the family structure. Filipinos who go to different parts of the world often face employment issues as part of their bitter reality as overseas workers. 

The country became a source of workers in the 1970s during the time of Marcos Sr. because of the lack of jobs and decent wages. The number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) started at only a few thousand during the 1970s and the number surged to 1 million in 2006. 

As of 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that the estimated number of Filipino workers abroad is 1.96 million. This number states that nothing has changed, and the things of the past just progressed even more. These statistics show that more and more Filipinos are now working for foreigners in their own country—away from their homeland and native heart, and most especially, and sadly: from their families. 

“Sana habang nakahiga ka diyan sa kutson mo, natutulog, maisip mo rin kung ilang taon akong natulog mag-isa nabang nangungulila ako sa yakap ng mga mahal ko.”

Filipino Labor Migration has proven to be of immense help to the country —especially during the Global Financial Crisis in 2009, when the world experienced an economic recession, specifically in industrial and export industries. This moment in history profoundly proved that the remittances of our OFWs helped the country survive the global crisis. 

While various countries suffered from the crisis, the Philippines remained afloat thanks to the remittances of OFWs that also cover 10% of the country's total population.  In terms of political and social aspects, various problems emerged during the 1970s that Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) face up until the present. This includes illegal recruitment, contract substitution, illegal placement fees, long working hours, and no days off, among others.

Ultimately, these prolonged problems resulted in the struggles of OFWs that make their stay abroad an eternal agony especially if it’s partnered with homesickness and guilt from leaving their families.

Familial Impact

"Sana maisip mo kahit kaunti kung gaano kasakit sa akin ang mag-alaga ng mga batang hindi ko kaano-ano, samantalang kayo, kayong mga anak ko, hindi ko man lang maalagaan. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit yun sa isang ina? Alam mo bang gaano kasakit yun?”

Labor migration also transformed and modified the social and family structures of Filipinos. A parent left will take over the roles of either a mother or a father while the other is working abroad. Unfortunately, despite that fact, this is not to say that there are no negative effects of a parent migrating for employment. 

Children tend to be affected more by the absence of their migrant parents, as compared to the opposite. A 2009 study shows that this may result in a lower academic rating, sickness, and making the affected child prone to anxiety and loneliness. 

Tan, who resides in Bulacan, witnessed this kind of struggle himself and shared his first-hand experiences of struggling as a child of an OFW. 

“When my mom was away, I was only four years old so that is why it is kind of sad on my mom’s part because she was not there during the formative phase of my development,” Tan said during the interview.

He also added that this kind of situation made him think that this was the reason why he felt disconnected from his mother in some aspects. But despite that fact, he said that they try to make things work between him and his mom.   

“We still make it work naman these days—just like how I figured out how to get used to her absence during my younger years,” he added.

Tan also seconded the assertion of how labor migration changed our nation’s familial dynamics and setups by sharing how his extended family took care of him in the past years.  

“...My tita became my second mom. And for me, having her and my lola be [a] substitute for my mom was great—I’ve been lucky to my family because I never felt I’m incomplete or without love. After all, I have them,” he shared. 

“Although, I would also like to acknowledge the fact that this does not always apply to everybody. It’s sad that some children of OFW people- [got] other kinds of treatment, which are frequently… you know, [like, very] traumatic—and I think we should also acknowledge that, and how it contributed now to Gen Z’s disgust with ‘utang na loob sa mga pamilya’.”

Hence, although it is a sad reality, sacrifices must be made and certain adjustments must be arranged for the family of an OFW to keep them safe and sound while they toil abroad to provide for their loved ones left here in the Philippines.

Just like what the character of Joy played by Kathryn Bernardo in the 2019 film Hello Love, Goodbye, has said, “ang choice ay para lang sa may pera.”

Ultimately, this only shows that all the statistics and facts mentioned earlier are not just numbers; they are lived experiences.

In 2016, the government, through R.A. 10801, launched a new charter for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide services for the welfare and protection of OFWs and their families. 

In addition, to strengthen the anti-trafficking measures of the government, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 (RA 10364) amended the 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act to combat trafficking and increase penalties for found violators of the law. 

With the help of these legislations, as well as the R.A. 10022 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1996, as amended, migrant Filipino workers received an improved standard of protection for themselves, their families, and other OFWs especially as one of the provisions of the law under Section 4 restricts deployment to other countries that have not been certified as safe and do not offer protection. Moreover, the said law also mandates recruitment agencies to provide our OFWs with compulsory insurance when accidental death or disability occurs.

With all of the laws mentioned, Tan seemed to be not a fan of these. 

“Except for R.A. 10801, since my mom has already been here since 2014, I do not find myself fond of those because they are not that helpful. My mom, and my other relatives who went overseas, actually told me stories of how they survived there and they told me: it’s more of them. Like, during their time daw, kanya-kanya sila doon,” he said. 

Tan added  that “it’s hard to seek help from authorities and their agencies. It will take a lot of time and effort. Ika nga nila, patay na sila bago dumating ‘yung gusto nilang mangyari na tulong sa kanila, or for their co-workers who happened to be Pinoy too.”

He explained further “I know a lot of my other relatives who got the chance to work overseas, but a TNT (tago-nang-tago). Others [are]friends of our family who got illegally recruited to be prostitutes in other countries, and many other atrocities that I cannot speak of.”

So when asked about what kind of action must be executed to improve these laws, Tan answered: “I actually do not know. I think if you ask my mom about that, she will just tell you to… improve [the welfare of] our workers. Give them the salary that they deserve because working for public authorities is a tough thing.  That is why other LGU (Local Government Unit) workers do not do their jobs properly to serve the people because they are not compensated well.” 

These issues, among others, are complex, interrelated, and systematic in themselves. It is important to recognize the personal contributions in finding solutions to alleviate the problem of labor migration. 

Education is the one thing that others cannot take away. However, in the context of the Philippine economy and current job landscape: it is sad to say that education is not enough to alleviate poverty and for it to be able to inspire oneself and others. 

Thus, this is the reason why labor migration is still a thing, until now. Let us just hope that, one day, our country will finally get it right regarding a fair and appropriate remuneration system. A system that knows no hegemonic value and class hierarchy, and job opportunities are not scarce in every part of our country. By then, maybe more Filipinos will not choose to have overseas jobs and strive to be professionals, here—not away from their families anymore. 

Moreover, as Gloc 9 said in his song Walang Natira, “gusto kong yumaman, yumaman, yumaman,” indeed labor migration is a bitter reality for Filipinos since we are known to be family-oriented. 

Nevertheless, this continues to be a systematic issue due to its effects on the social, cultural, political, and family structure worldwide, especially within the country. One must do is to make our country a better place, by electing a reformist and pro-worker leader who envisions a progressive Philippines.

Ultimately, it is imperative to ask for our legislators to act more than just protecting our OFWs and their families but also enact policies to have a mechanism for wage increases and more job opportunities to prevent them from going abroad just to land a job and to have a livable wage.

 

And lastly, it is through these efforts and aspirations, in the future, that hopefully we can no longer see families being separated from each other because of migration—where we can live in a world where the phrase “modern-day hero” will no longer be a bittersweet title, but a thing of the past.