Business sector seeks tax breaks for professionals working abroad

The business community is asking the government to give tax breaks to professionals working overseas but are willing to come back and work in the country.

“We need to give them (Filipinos working overseas) a reason to come back and work here. A tax break is a good incentive,” Sammie Lim, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said in an interview.

According to Lim, returning Filipinos can share to the other Filipinos their expertise and training.

“There are a lot of locals who went abroad and they are considered the best in their field. It is time for them to come back and give something to the country,” Lim explained.

He said the salary of Filipinos working overseas is bigger than what they would receive here but receiving tax breaks will somewhat lessen the discrepancy.

Earlier, the Ayala Foundation, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and public relations firm EON launched a website which aims to foster interaction between Filipinos in the Philippines and those working overseas.

Guillermo Luz, executive director of the Ayala Foundation said the website is a good place for Filipinos to exchange ideas and work experiences.

Aside from this, the website that will serve as a promotional site for the five most promising services industries in the country namely animation and design; offshoring and outsourcing services, which includes IT-enabled and business process outsourcing services; medical and wellness services, including medical tourism; retirement; and education.

Luz said “The OneFilipino.Net” will help brand the country as an exporter and provider of quality services and not merely as exporter of manpower.

“We will make the Philippines a hub. We want to be a service provider and not just a simple exporter of people,” Luz said.

The portal, which will accessed through http://www.OneFilipino.Net, will present the features and latest happenings in the Philippine creative services and industries.

Henry Schumacher, ECCP executive vice president, said these are perceived to be the growth sectors where the country holds vast potential and where Filipinos are beginning to create a worldwide reputation for excellence.

The website will likewise be a good venue for investors who are looking to forge joint venture projects with businessmen and professionals based here in the five services industries.

Schumacher said the Filipino contract workers abroad, themselves, will be eventually prodded to come back and start their own business here through the website.

He said the value to be generated by this will be higher than the $15 million in yearly remittances being sent by the OFWs.