Filipino recruitment agencies sending workers to Taiwan fear the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine coastguards could lead to a decline in the hiring of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Taiwan.
The Taiwanese government has issued a hiring freeze on Filipinos in retaliation for the death of the fisherman.
According to data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Taiwan is among the most popular destinations for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with about nearly 2,000 new applications every month
Almost 7,000 Filipino workers bound for Taiwan will not be able to leave the country, as Taiwan suspended the hiring of Filipino workers.
According to a group of local agencies that deploy mainly Filipino workers to Taiwan, many job orders are now being recalled.
Cristy Lyn Masonsong, treasurer of the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan, Inc, said, "Our fear is that our job orders are now being recalled. They decided to transfer to Vietnam and Indonesia."
Single mother Rhea Labor is now worried that she will not be able to work as an engineer in an electronics company in Taiwan because of the hire freeze.
She said: "My family is already expecting the salary that I will be getting in Taiwan. We've already spent a lot -- especially the placement fees. I have resigned from my work here already. It's sad that we will not be able to leave right away for Taiwan."
Local recruitment agencies are now calling for sobriety and diplomacy as further escalation of tension between Taiwan and the Philippines could lead to a decline in the hiring of overseas Filipino workers.
Angelo Tong, president of the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan, Inc, said: "We are hopeful that this rift will be over soon because we have a long standing friendship with Taiwan and we need each other."
The Labour Department said it is now considering South Korea and other Middle East countries as alternative markets for overseas Filipino workers affected by the hiring freeze in Taiwan.
There are currently 87,000 Filipinos working mostly as electronic factory workers and caregivers in Taiwan.
Source: Channel News Asia