TITLE:
Life Challenges of Overseas Filipino Workers
AUTHORS:
Alvin Gino M. Bautista, Vladimir T. Tamayo
KEYWORDS:
Overseas Filipino Workers, Life Challenges, Communication, Finances, Work Environment
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.7 No.10,
October
19,
2020
ABSTRACT: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been hailed by the Philippine government as “New Heroes” (Uy-Tioco, 2007) . Having big houses, farms, cars, jewelry, and other signs of richness are common to many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who are employed in different parts of the world. Working as an OFW is not always perfect as what is expected. The truth is that, they are also facing different challenges aside from leaving their families in the Philippines to have a better future. Communication, finances, and life and work environment are only some of those challenges they encounter. This research was made to evaluate the life challenges of selected overseas migrant workers. The 850 selected OFWs all around the world were the respondents of this study. The generality of this current study would be a great contribution to the huge knowledge concerning the challenges faced by Overseas Filipino Workers. The results of this study could be extremely significant and beneficial specifically to the following: Overseas Filipino Workers. The outcome of this research study will definitely produce essential information about the life challenges of every Overseas Filipino Worker, which might be a great support to the respondents in understanding themselves and their fellow OFWs who are also facing the same scenarios. Through the assistance of the recommendations of the researchers, it can also help them lessen their problems like in finances, homesickness or job burnout, “job burnout is an uncomfortable and unhealthy disorder that would like to improve for both individuals and organizations” (K. E. Santos, 2020) %%%, and be able to know what to do and who can talk to in case that they feel problematic while they are miles away from home. Families of the Overseas Filipino Workers: The results of this study will help them understand their family member’s situation while working abroad and appreciate their efforts in supporting their families. SSS, PhilHealth, POEA, and OWWA: The results of this study will help these agencies strengthen their services for the welfare, security, and benefits of the OFWs. Future Researchers: This will also be useful to the future and aspiring researchers to plan and create pertinent results to their studies similar to this current study. The researchers used a set of survey questionnaires in gathering pertinent data. The questionnaires were disseminated via an online Google survey form sent to the respondents. After all the data needed were gathered, the frequencies of answers in each question were tallied and their percentage and weighted mean were obtained. It was concluded that Overseas Filipino Workers were facing different challenges while doing their respective job abroad. However, they can assure that the Philippine government supports and protects them even they were not in the Philippines.