Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

Social security and protection of OFWs are growing concerns, given the limited coverage of the SSS, PHIC and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Out of 8.6 million overseas Filipinos (OFs) in 2009, 4 million are permanent migrants, 3.9 million are temporary OFWs and 658,370 are irregular migrants. Table 8.7 summarizes the actual OFW membership to institutions that provide social security benefits.

Figure 8.3. Deployed Landbased OFWs, by Top Occupational Category: 2009

Source: Overseas Employment Statistics Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

There is, therefore, a need to review the viability of current social security and welfare fund schemes, given the limited capacity and resources of the country's social security and welfare fund institutions. Another challenge is the exclusion of domestic workers, the top occupational category with respect to deployment of landbased OFWs, in most of the social security laws particularly in top destination countries (see Figure 8.3).