Call to arms speech by anonymous

Good Evening Leaders!

May I start by asking all of you some questions. How many here has friends or relatives who have families working abroad in able to provide for their family or to give their family a comfortable life? How many parents take care of other's children rather than taking care of their own? How many Filipinos sacrifice their happiness living with their family in able to earn more abroad? And how many Filipino OFWs died in other countries? According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, The number of Overseas Filipino Workers who worked abroad at anytime during the period April to September 2014 was estimated at 2.3 million. That is the number of Filipinos who live far away from their families. Many children of migrant workers have grown up not knowing both of their parents. Many children of long term absent parents do not feel affection towards them, or might not even recognize them. Many relationships are broken as one parent emigrates which causes a
larger proportion of children growing up with divorced or unhappy parents.

In my research, here are some of the reasons why Filipinos work abroad:
1. Unstable economic situation in the Philippines.
2. High unemployment rate in the Philippines
3. Low salary offered by local companies
4. Poor benefits for workers in the Philippines

In able to help on decreasing the numbers of OFWs, Government should convince more foreign investors to invest in the Philippines in able to create more jobs and continue their advocacy to stop corruption in order to provide extra benefits to the Filipinos. To my co-entrepreneurs we should give fair compensations to our workers.

There are advantages of working in a foreign country; like skilled employees have opportunities to enhance their expertise and of course, earn more money. But there are also negative effects and I'll just state one; leaving their family. According to most of the children whose parent or parents working abroad, though they are happy on having a convenient life, if they have a choice they will choose to have their parent or parents beside them.
I may be a small time businesswoman today but at least I know that because of the business I built even if it is small, I was able to create a job for some Filipinos and that I was able to help them provide for their families.
I believe that big things often have small beginnings. I for ones can start on my own business by giving the reasonable salary to my employees, providing my employees the right benefits and also being open on accepting workers who are undergraduates. We all want to earn a lot but let us play a fair game, do not use your position to mislead. Entrepreneurs let us start on our own businesses; let us be fair to our employees and let us help on giving Filipinos work here in our country. On our culture, family is very important; having a complete and intact family is very significant to us Filipinos. Leaders let us give reason or reasons for Filipinos to work and stay here in the Philippines with their families and showcase their talents in their own country.
Thank you.