OFWs to learn English again

Just because they’re working overseas doesn’t mean that they can’t go back to school.

The Philippine government is embarking on a program that would oblige overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to attend proficiency classes to maintain their competitive edge over other foreign workers.

"Although proficiency in the English language is not the only basis for the continuous high demand for OFWs, it remains as one of the assets and as such must be preserved," Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Wilhelm Soriano said.

He said the different Philippine consulates abroad have been tasked to hold English classes for Filipino migrant workers.

But Soriano said the program will first be pilot-tested in Saipan where an estimated 20,000 OFWs are expected to attend special classes to develop their language skills and potentials.

"The classes are focused on improving the OFWs’ proficiency in the English language as well as develop their writing skills and upgrade the workers’ overall potential," he explained.

Soriano added that the program would enhance the qualifications of OFWs and increase their marketability compared to their counterparts from other foreign countries.

Knowledge of the English language, he said, is a big advantage to OFWs whose services are sought by foreign employers.

The government has observed that other labor-exporting countries like Thailand, Bangladesh and China now require their nationals to undergo English classes prior to deployment.

There were also reports that the English proficiency of Filipinos has deteriorated in the past years, in effect endangering the employment opportunities of OFWs.

Soriano said the program will eventually be implemented in various Middle East countries where an estimated 500,000 OFWs are expected to benefit.

As this developed, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported that the stay of an estimated 100,000 undocumented OFWs in Israel would soon be legalized.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas also said the government of the Philippines and Italy will forge an agreement providing for the legalization of overstaying and undocumented OFWs there.

"The agreement will hopefully be signed in June," Sto. Tomas said while noting that the agreement was delayed because of the kidnapping of Italian priest Guiseppe Pierantoni.