UNISON has launched a Filipino
help line to assist work with the many nurses employed by
the NHS chances of survival at the mercy of their employers. Most of the migrant women's families are run by their male partners. Research shows that the spending habits of the family increase - shopping sprees, spending more on luxurious items and other non-essential buying. OFW Remittances
The most often-used argument in favour of labour migration is that remittances play an extraordinary role in the economies of many developing countries - far more important than official development assistance or even the country's foreign direct investment.
Worldwide, remittances are estimated at about US $167 billion per year, and approximately 60 percent of this sum goes to developing countries. Remittance estimates are imprecise, however, because remittances often move through private, unrecorded channels.
Yes, the Philippines has annual OF remittances of US $12-14 billion, excluding the non-formal channels: but NO that does not compensate for the social costs of migration and the development of the country.
Despite this enormous amount of remittance or cash inflow, labour migration does not significantly improve the development prospects of the country of
The Philippines have had great difficulty in converting remittance income into sustainable productive capacity.
In addition, most Third World countries are able to exercise little control over the composition of their labour exports-rather, they are determined by foreign labour markets, and may bear no relation to 'surplus' labour at home.
The Philippines has focused quite deliberately on producing skilled labour for foreign markets, but remains passive in the face of international supply and demand.
As we have said, remittance income is rarely used for productive purposes. Remittances go in small amounts to poor people the average size of a transfer from the US or Europe to the Philippines is about $200 or 150 euro per month), and are used mostly to support direct consumption and spending on hous ing, healthcare, and education.
Only a very small proportion of remitted funds seem to go into income-earning. job-creating investment and property acquisition.
Remittances may not constitute a rising tide that raises all boats, but they do have a very important effect on the standard of living of the households that receive them, constituting a significant portion of household income. They represent the most important social safety