MANILA: Manila’s new ambassador said on Wednesday that the Philippines is adjusting to the changing demographics of its expatriate workers in the United Arab Emirates, as a growing number of young educated Filipinos seek employment overseas.
Of the more than 2 million overseas Filipino workers, whose remittance inflow accounts for about 9 percent of their country’s GDP, about 650,000 live in the UAE – the second largest employer of Philippine expats after Saudi Arabia.
Most of them have traditionally found employment in the hospitality and service industries as well as in households.
But that trend is changing as a growing number of young Filipino professionals look overseas for work, Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver, who took up his position in Abu Dhabi last month, told Arab News.
“The demographics of Filipinos coming to the UAE are changing, and the Philippine government is responding to this change,” he added.
“We note that the demand for medical professionals and nurses is very high, and this has been made clear from the UAE side, so this is an area we are looking at where both sides can work.”
About 10 percent of the Filipino workforce in the Gulf state is employed in the health sector, according to a 2019 study by EON, a Philippine public relations company in Dubai.
Their dedication was particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many became frontline workers supporting the UAE’s response to the outbreak. Those who lost their lives in the line of duty received state recognition from the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“During the pandemic, Filipinos in all fields of effort continued with their work here in the UAE, and doctors and nurses at the forefront of vaccine trials were recognized for their efforts to fight the virus,” Ver Said.
“Filipinos in the UAE are not only significant in numbers… they are known for their professionalism, talent and skills, combined with innate friendliness, which is why they are respected and embraced by the UAE Is.”
The envoy added that under his leadership, the Philippine government team in the UAE will seek ways to take advantage of the goodwill between the Philippines and the UAE and promote cooperation between the two countries.
The key role in the efforts is played by the Filipinos themselves, to the point that Ver refers to them as his “fellow ambassadors”.
He added: “This influx of Filipinos living in the UAE has opened doors and allowed the embassy to meaningfully engage with the host government.
“Ever since Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE, established this country, Filipino professionals such as engineers, architects and later in the medical field such as doctors and nurses have flocked to the UAE’s shores to help build this nation. Arrived at
“The strong presence of Filipinos in all aspects of UAE life is felt to this day, and I believe this is an advantage, a leverage that we should continue to build upon.”