EMPLOYMENT ABROAD

Contributed by Blesilda A. Tamoro, Teacher III, Sta. Rosa Elementary School, Pilar

What causes the exodus of our people to foreign lands? What is the result of this migration of our people? The lack of jobs in the Philippines has encouraged many to seek greener pastures, even at the sacrifice of being separated from their families.

Many Filipinos, men as well as women, go abroad to get better employment. Teachers accept jobs as maids or “yayas” in different countries. Nurses go to the Middle East and to the United States. Doctors go to America or to other countries. Different skilled persons go to the oil-rich countries. Entertainers, dancers, singers go to Japan.

The result of this migration of our people are the following:

The Philippines suffers a brain drain as our doctors go to the U.S., making our medical schools, a training ground for other countries to benefit from our best products.
Laborers go to the Middle East where often they do not get wage that was promised to them.
The nurses go to the U.S. and to the Middle East where they are sometimes exploited by their employers.
The teachers accept domestic jobs, which is far below their profession.
Entertainers go to Japan and are sometimes forced into prostitution by illegal recruiters.
When the husband or wife has to go abroad, separation of families has resulted which may in turn cause broken homes. Loneliness has often led the husband or wife to form attachments with other partners.

To get rid of this problem, here are some suggestions. (1) Family ties should be strengthened so that even if husband and wife are apart, they will resist being attracted to other partners. (2) Frequent communication between husband and wife through letters is one way of warding off loneliness and keeping close ties. (3) Keeping busy is also means to warding off temptations. (4) Application for jobs abroad should be through legal recruiters and government agencies.(5) The government should try to protect its citizens by supervision of recruiting agencies and examination of working contracts.

References:

Apolinario, Filomeno O., Perez, Rafael B., Segarra, Tito S., Social Problems. Manila: Rex Book Store. 1977. Part IV, Chapter 1, Part II, Chapters I, II, III

Cook, Lloyd Allen and Cook, Elaine Forsyth. A Sociological Approach to Education, 3^rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co., Inc. 1960. Chapter 8

Stanley, William O., Smith B. Othanel, Benne, Kenneth D. and Anderson, Archibald W., Social Foundations of Education. New York: The Dryden Press, Inc. 1956, Section B.

Weiberg, Carl, Educational and Social Problems. New York: The Free Press, 1971. Chapters 3 and 5; pp. 20-22.