Contrary to the reports that Taiwan will limit the entry of foreign workers due to financial depression, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) recently reported that Taiwan is still open and will be hiring more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Antonio Basilio, MECO’s managing director reported that Taiwan’s Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) promoted direct hiring opportunities for OFWS during the 11^th Philippine Independence Day celebration last June 14 at the Taoyum Stadium in Northern Taiwan. He noted that Taiwanese companies continue to hire Filipino workers in spite of the gloomy economy.

“The Filipinos are among the most experienced, skilled and highly educated workers in the market today and as such, the job fairs that we held in recent weeks received great support from the recruitment and business community. The positive response from our fellow OFWs was also immediate” says Basilio.

MECO is in charge of handling and securing the welfare and legal rights of OFWs in Taiwan. Currently, there are 90,000 Filipinos living and working in the country.

Last month, MECO participated in the Jobapalooza career fair at the Philippine Ugnayan Migrant and Immigrant Center in Taipei which is attended by Philippine and Taiwanese manpower agencies.

Rodolfo Sabulao, MECO’s director of labor affairs, reported that out of 330 OFW applicants, 66 were hired on the spot and 218 were found to be qualified but lack necessary documents. The remaining 46 applicants, on the other hand, have to go through another round of interviews.

According to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Marianito Roque, around 50 percent of the laid off OFWS are now being rehired. About 6,000 Filipino migrant workers, mostly from export industry were terminated, 4,000 of them worked in Taiwan.