The Conditions of the Overseas Filipino Workers in Taiwan and the Efficiency of the Philippine Remittance System

Abstract

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have significantly and progressively fueled the economy as their deployment and remittances increase each year. For many of them, migration has provided opportunities and possibilities to look at the future with more confidence. But for many others, migration is a nightmare on hell and earth combined. It entails difficult working and living conditions, inhumane treatment, abuse and violence. Tn Taiwan alone. foreign workers are frequently treated like slaves. The dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs they do violate the labor standards and human rights that they deserve. It is in this context that the researcher wanted to closely examine the conditions of the OFWs in Taiwan, as well as to reassess the efficiency of the Philippine remittance system, since remittance flows ofOFWs is also a multi-billion dollar question nowadays. Using both empirical and evaluative approaches, this study made a descriptive analysis of the Philippine labor export to Taiwan, and its socio-economic impacts. It also made a significant contribution on expanding of what needs to be known about remittance system, and on how to fully maximize its benefits towards economic development.

The results of this study could be utilized to make policy recommendations to resolve problems related to labor migration, not only in Taiwan, but in the entire overseas employment policy of the Philippines. Moreover, unlike the policy assessment and descriptive studies about remittance system that has been done in the past, this study tried to provide a deeper understanding on how to enhance the efficiency of the system, as well. This study poses a challenge, not only to the government, and to the remittance players, but also to the labor movements, practitioners, academics in the field of Development Studies.