Philippines: Number of undocumented OFWs decreasing

Manila: The number of undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has decreased, but the number of OFWS remaining permanently abroad has also increased, according to a newspaper report.

There were  1.8 million undocumented OFWs in 2000, but the number decreased to 704,916 in 2010, the Star quoted a report of the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO).

There are 200,000 undocumented OFWs in Malaysia, and 156,000 in the United States in 2010. In comparison, there were 509,000 undocumented OFWs in Malaysia, and 278,000 in the United States in 2000, CFO said.

Many undocumented OFWs are also based in France, Singapore, Qatar, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, CFO said.

Despite the decreasing number of undocumented OFWs from 2000 to 2010, the official estimate of 9.4 million OFWs worldwide could reach 9.7 million OFWs, the CFO said.

The number of Filipinos seeking permanent residence abroad has also increased, the CFO said, adding that 2.5 million Filipinos sought permanent residence abroad in 2000, and 4.4 million in 2010.

Majority of them or 2.8 million are in the US; 581,095 in Canada; 314,710 in European countries; and about 700,000, in Asian countries, CFO said, quoting figures for 2010.

In comparison, in 2000, there were only 1.8 million Filipino residents in the US; 147,408 Filipino residents in European countries, CFO said.

Permanent residents abroad are immigrants and not necessarily based on work contracts, CFO explained.