Still no deployment of OFWs to Macau: PH labor office

MANILA – The deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Macau is still suspended, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) said on Friday.

In a virtual briefing, Ma. Nena German, labor attache in Macau, said the host territory has yet to accept migrant workers including Filipino workers as its economy has yet to fully open due to the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

She said Macau stopped accepting both foreign workers and tourists since March 2020.

“Since March 2020, all commercial flights to Macau were canceled or suspended. Maybe that’s also the reason why the number of (Covid-19) cases hasn’t increased here since they don’t allow entry until now,” she added.

German said based on the latest figure, the territory has zero active cases of the virus. Only 63 cases were recorded earlier in the Chinese semi-autonomous region.

On the other hand, German reported that close to 4,000 OFWs have been repatriated after losing their jobs due to the pandemic, as of this month.

“Many of them have already returned home through our arranged repatriation flights. There are a total of 3,951, as of September 22,” she said.

Prior to the pandemic, the labor attache added that the number of Filipinos in Macau is at 34,180 but it reduced to 28,639, as of July 2021.

She said the number continues to decrease as they recorded hundreds of workers that have lost their jobs, every month since January up to July.

“We have 349 in January 2021, 286 in February, 401 in March, 412 in April, 418 in May, 374 in June, and 349 in July. The effect (of the pandemic) on the economy of Macau is so massive. It resulted also in the termination of employment of OFWs…The uncertainty clouding Macau’s economy, economic recovery is always anchored on the pandemic situation and the same holds true if we will be allowed to deploy again in Macau, so far none,” she said.

Most Filipinos workers in Macau are employed in tourism-related sectors such as hotels, casinos and restaurants. There are also those working as household service workers.