Pinoy migrant workers getting younger

MANILA, Philippines – An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday expressed concern over reports that Filipinos seeking jobs abroad are getting younger.

Fr. Edwin Corros, executive secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI), said in an interview over Radio Veritas 846 that parents are urging their young children to apply for work abroad.

“This is very saddening because we believe that the youth are the future of our country and yet we see that the youth are taking up courses which are in demand abroad,” he said.

Aside from seeking jobs, young Filipinos are also leaving the country to join their parents who are working abroad. The CBCP said many of these children experience a difficult adjustment when they are reunited with their parents.

These were two of the major concerns discussed as the church led celebrations of the 22nd National Migrants Sunday (NMS) which began over the weekend.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Show Concern to the Young Generation of Migrants.”

The CBCP aims to create public awareness on the conditions of the young migrants and to look at their situation. “We begin to inform them of what to expect once they reach more developed and advanced countries,” Fr. Corros said.

The prelate cited Pope Benedict XVI’s message during the 2008 World Day of Migrants and Refugees where he made mention of the “culture shock experienced by minors sent abroad to be with their working parents.”

One way of addressing this problem is for the dioceses to implement a program designed to help children of migrants called “Sons and Daughters of OFWs.” The program is centered on values formation and guidance counseling.