Filipinos in Palau
Encyclopedia
Filipinos in Palau consist of migrants from the Philippines
and their descendants living in Palau
. The approximately 7,000 Filipinos living in Palau make up about 35% of the entire population of Palau
, and are make up the second-largest ethnic group after Palauans. In addition, the Tagalog language
is the fourth most-spoken language in Palau.
. They served as serviceman in the United States Navy
, and came to work at a power plant. In the 1970s, about 200 Filipinos were living and working in Palau, mostly in teaching and professional positions. Today, there are 4,495 Filipinos that live legally in Palau, and twenty-one of them are permanent residents, while the rest, 4,434, are migrant workers. However, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Saipan
estimates that 80% of Filipinos living in Palau are undocumented immigrants. In 2007, four people, two Filipinos and two Taiwanese, were arrested, jailed and fined for smuggling several Filipinos into Palau.
250. There is no Philippine Department of Labor and Employment
office in Palau, and the Filipino Embassy works with the government of Palau
to coordinate labour recruitment. Ramoncito Mariño, the Filipino ambassador to Palau said, "...labor problems usually start in the recruitment itself. So we make sure that the Palauan employers are in touch with legal recruiters who can produce qualified workers. It would also be another problem if the ones sent here are not qualified for their jobs."
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and their descendants living in Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
. The approximately 7,000 Filipinos living in Palau make up about 35% of the entire population of Palau
Demographics of Palau
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Palau, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
, and are make up the second-largest ethnic group after Palauans. In addition, the Tagalog language
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
is the fourth most-spoken language in Palau.
History
Filipinos first arrived in Palau in the 1940s just after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They served as serviceman in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and came to work at a power plant. In the 1970s, about 200 Filipinos were living and working in Palau, mostly in teaching and professional positions. Today, there are 4,495 Filipinos that live legally in Palau, and twenty-one of them are permanent residents, while the rest, 4,434, are migrant workers. However, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
estimates that 80% of Filipinos living in Palau are undocumented immigrants. In 2007, four people, two Filipinos and two Taiwanese, were arrested, jailed and fined for smuggling several Filipinos into Palau.
Filipino labour
Filipinos in Palau are employed in the agricultural, construction, education, engineering, fishing, hotel, medical, restaurant, and tourism sectors or as domestic helpers. The minimum monthly wages that a Filipino would receive is about US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
250. There is no Philippine Department of Labor and Employment
Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment is the executive department of the Philippine Government mandated to formulate policies, implement programs and services, and serve as the policy-coordinating arm of the Executive Branch in the field of labor and employment...
office in Palau, and the Filipino Embassy works with the government of Palau
Politics of Palau
Politics of Palau takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Palau is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...
to coordinate labour recruitment. Ramoncito Mariño, the Filipino ambassador to Palau said, "...labor problems usually start in the recruitment itself. So we make sure that the Palauan employers are in touch with legal recruiters who can produce qualified workers. It would also be another problem if the ones sent here are not qualified for their jobs."