The number of overseas Filipino workers that were hired in the first four months of this year hits a slump. This was revealed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) yesterday. Preliminary POEA data reveals that the number significantly decreased as compared to last years hiring.

The slump is attributed to the new policy in hiring domestic workers abroad, particularly the increase in monthly compensation which is double the present wages. Nevertheless, labor officials conveys their certainty that the hiring slack will pick up especially with the addition of new potential employer like Canada and New Zealand.

In the intervening time, after the concentrated effort of Malaysia to purge its work force of undocumented foreign migrant workers, the country is now opening its doors to foreign workers specially those with high skills including Filipinos. A spokesman from Manila Jerphi Overseas Placement and Trading Corp. stated that Malaysia is in need of more foreign workers for its factories, restaurants, hotels and ship repair facilities. The agency also cited the US-based company, TGIF, needs over 100 workers for its soon to be opened restaurants in Malaysia.