Fewer local jobs, rising numbers of OFW
By:
Totie Mesia
Date:
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 
35,000
As a consequence of the fall of the electronic industry, this is the number workers who lost their job in the major economic zone in Laguna according to reports that reached the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP.) The huge lay-offs put the pressure on workers to leave the country and seek employment abroad. It is consistent with the National Statistics Office (NSO) data showing that Philippine exports fell 11.9 percent to $3.49 billion in November, the second straight month of double-digit loss following a downward slide by 14.8 percent in October.
It is said the country lost $1.18 billion in exports, mostly from electronics ($960 million) in October to November 2008.
In a related development, the closing of Intel's Philippine testing and assembly plant in Cavite this year will displace an additional 1,800 workers (cut down from 3,000 in November 2008) after 20 years of operation.
1,376,823
According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW
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Tags: budget, economy, employment, Gaza, Israel, jobs, OFW, sea accident, Totie Mesia