The economic boom of many countries has brought with it the awakening of a global workforce. Numerous companies operating worldwide have successfully incorporated into their workforce a diverse group of employees from various countries. This global insurgence of racially diverse labor force has benefited first-world and third-world countries alike.
The Philippines, although quite a tiny archipelago in Southeast Asia, has recently been receiving worldwide recognition as a rich source of global manpower - from skilled laborers to qualified professionals. It provides thousands of employees annually to different countries throughout the world.
The Global Presence of Filipino Workers
Filipinos comprise a significant chunk of the nurse population in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Middle East. When you go to Canada and Europe, you have a great chance of meeting Filipino caregivers. In Japan, you will most likely be entertained by Filipino singers and dancers. In the Middle East, various types of skilled manual labor are mostly occupied by workers from the Philippines. Shipping companies worldwide employ many Filipinos who make up about 20 percent of the world's sailors. And of course, the list does not end here, as perhaps all countries in the world have a certain percentage of Filipino workers in their workforce.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia currently employs the largest bulk (roughly 1 million) of Filipinos working overseas. Among these workers are professionals like engineers, nurses, IT personnel, etc; and skilled workers such as welders, drivers, carpenters, machine operators and a lot more.
Why Foreign Employers Hire Filipinos
So what is this thing about Filipino workers? What makes them attractive to potential employers from all over the world? Why are they hired by many countries requiring foreign personnel? This article explores some of the beneficial aspects that foreign countries can obtain by choosing to employ Filipino workers.
First, let me tap on the obvious - the educational qualifications of Filipinos. The Philippines adopts an educational system that is compliant and at par with global standards. This high quality educational system features the following:
- US English-based curriculum. English is prevalently taught from Pre-School to post-graduate school. Even the rural public institutions in the remote provinces use English as a medium of instruction. Although often times not fluently, teachers always try to discuss lessons in English, Thus, those who do not even graduate from the sixth grade, can still read English well. And most people can understand and speak common phrases and simple sentences in English.
- High quality curriculum - Philippine academic institutions generally offer high quality education. High School and college courses meet international standards as evidenced by the ability and competence of Filipinos to pass foreign accreditation and licensing examinations. The most common of which are the CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools) Qualifying Examination and the NCLEX-RN (Nursing Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse. Both examinations are given by the United States; the former as a means of verifying if the foreign-trained nurse's education and competence are adaptable to their nursing system and the latter is to grant any baccalaureate nurse graduate a license to practice as a professional nurse. Many Filipino nurses pass these two examinations yearly.
The distinctive characteristics of Filipinos comprise the other main reason why they are preferred by many foreign employers. Below are some of the general traits of Filipinos that are evident in their working habits:
- Passionate - Filipinos generally put passion into their work. They love to tackle their jobs especially if they feel sufficiently recognized and compensated for their efforts.
- Competent - Filipinos are well-trained in their respective fields. A lot of Philippine citizens have even gained international acclaim in various fields. They are generally capable of meeting high standards and comply with strict regulations in the performance of their duties.
- Industrious - Philippine workers are used to overtime work. It is even a common practice to stay beyond work hours just to finish a task. And some do not do it just for the money but just for the desire to go home with a sense of fulfillment of having accomplished much for the day.
- Competitive - Filipinos are naturally competitive. This trait can be seen in their love for various competitions including sports, academic excellence and career advancement.
- Resourceful and creative - Being lacking in many aspects, Filipinos have mastered the art of resourcefulness and creativity. Time and again, they have proven that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. This typical Filipino character is evident in a lot of improvised devices, makeshift dwellings and do-it-yourself equipment that are prevalently used particularly in impoverished provinces.
- Innovative - Filipinos generally like to think that there is always a better way to do things. Thus, coupled with the two previously mentioned traits, they often spearhead and implement innovative ideas designed to improve work flow and processes.
With these personal traits and professional characteristics commonly seen in Filipino workers, it is clear why many countries have embraced them into their workforce. By employing Filipinos, these countries can maximize their manpower investment and get quality labor force at competitive costs.
