EDITORIAL - Missing a golden opportunity

There are now plans to lift Manila’s ban on deploying Overseas Filipino Workers to Saudi Arabia.

It can be recalled that the Department of Labor and Employment temporarily suspended the verification of employment contracts and suspended the deployment of OFWs last November after thousands of Filipino construction workers complained of unpaid backwages with construction agencies, while domestic helpers complained about abusive employers.

This is good news for many Filipinos. There are quite a number of families that depend on OFWs who are now itching for work opportunities to open in that gulf state.

However, the government may be overlooking something here. Instead of making it easier for our workers to work abroad, perhaps the government can make it easier for our workers to get jobs here instead. That way they don’t have to leave the country in the first place. They are missing a golden opportunity here.

We realize that a job abroad, even for something as hazardous as construction work or as menial as housework --with no offense intended to those in that line of work-- trumps the measly pay of local jobs. However, there are consequences of sending our workforce abroad.

The consequences we are referring to are the social consequences being felt by families left without mothers or fathers, or even both. An absent parent is a strong pillar of influence that could otherwise make the basic fabric of our society stronger.

These consequences may not always be visible, but manifest as spouses who aren’t faithful and children who are not guided well and left open to outside and not necessarily good influences.

Look, we realize today that the youth of today are weaker in morals compared to the older generations at their age. While we cannot say it’s these missing pillars of otherwise good influence in the family that is the biggest factor in the erosion of the morality of today’s youth, we can say with some certainty that it is one of them.

If there is something that can be done to make sure our workers don’t have to leave the country --and their families-- for jobs abroad then this should be done.