PHILIPPINES MIGRANTS UP

The Department of Labor and Employment reported that 755, 684 land and sea based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were sent to 182 destinations worldwide in 1998, up from 747,696 in 1997. The number of land-based workers was 562,384 in 1998, up from 559,227 in 1997, while the number of sailors rose to 193,300 in 1998, up from 188,469 in 1997. Most of the land-based migrants were rehires: 223,589 were going abroad for the first time.

Most Filipino migrants are matched with overseas jobs by agents, who charge the migrants fees that are regulated by the government. There were 960 licensed recruitment agencies "in good standing" in 1998, up from 884 in 1997. In some cases, employees of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation operate recruitment and travel agencies.