1. UNDERSTAND THE PHILIPPINES CONTEXT
Today, the number of over- seas Filipino workers (OFWs) is approximately 8.7 million. OFWs work in about 190 countries for approximately
22,000 foreign employers.
xxiii The Philippines has a long history of sending Filipino workers overseas, and over time the Philippines govern- ment has developed a highly organized process and set of institutions to oversee migra- tion from the initial recruitment
phase to the deployment of the worker to his or her employer in
the destination country and thorough reintegration of workers upon their return. The estimated US $12–15 billion in annual revenue generated by remittances and the political sensitivities surrounding previous worker disputes have acted as additional impetus for creating policies and programs that attempt to strike
a balance between worker promotion and protection. As this system continues to evolve, the Philippines has emerged as a model of best practice for origin countries in Asia.