Philippine Economy May Be Heading For A Downturn

[Mr Lee]

Both these issues may hurt the Philippines. Less remittance is bound to be felt hard, so a double hit when a lower amount will now be able to come from Saudi where they usually send $1.5 billion. Philippines bans labor deployments to 41 countries The Philippines, one of the world's largest labor exporters, has ordered a ban on the deployment of workers to 41 countries where there are inadequate protections against labor abuse, the government said Wednesday.Nearly 10 percent of the Philippine population of 94 million work abroad, with many going to the Middle East. Saudi remittance cap seen hurting economy Records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration disclosed that the 1.2 million Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home $1.5 billion last year.Saudi Arabia-based Filipinos came third in terms of the amount of remittances after Canada with remittances of $2 billion and those in the United States, $1.8 billion, the report said.

[Mr Lee]

More countries face OFW ban Cao said Congress has given the POEA six more months to review the certification issued by the DFA on 31 other countries, including those in the Middle East.The six-month period, Cao said, would give the Philippine government and receiving countries longer time to forge bilateral agreements required for the protection of OFWs.