English or French a must for immigrants

It took time but immigration minister Jason Kenney finally stated that immigrants should be able to speak either English or French before seeking Canadian citizenship. The immigration minister’s call for stricter language requirements came as the federal government is looking for ways to improve its immigration programs.

Kenney stated at an immigration conference in Calgary “Someone who has been here 15 years and can’t speak English or French is basically locking themselves out of the vast majority of jobs and is isolating themselves socially. That is a tragedy.”

The government is currently shifting its focus from promoting diversity to encouraging more integration of new Canadians. The government finally realized that what Canada needs is to be more relaxed on diversity and give more focus on the things that unite the citizens as Canadians.

According to Statistics Canada, four years after arrival, new immigrants were asked about the difficulties they encountered in Canada. Finding an adequate job was the most often cited difficulty, mentioned by almost 50% of new immigrants. Linguistic and cultural adaptations were a challenge to many. About one quarter (20%) said that learning a new language was a difficulty while 13% mentioned the challenge of adapting to new cultures and values. Canadian weather was also a major factor, with 16% stating that adjusting to the climate was the greatest challenge they faced.

Overall, the report stated that most new immigrants have very positive views about the social and political environment in Canada. They point to the importance of safety and security, rights and freedoms, peace and stability as aspects of Canadian life they like most.

>>>A new Canadian study confirmed that a Mediterranean diet of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fish is good for your heart. The study was done at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Simply, the message is that we need to consume five or six servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and reduce all the sweets and baked goods, and try to eat more of the fish and chicken and less of the red meat.

It has long been known that people living near the Mediterranean are known to have a low rate of heart disease. Their diet includes plenty of fruits and veggies, healthy fats such as olives and canola oils, small portions of nuts, red wine in moderation, fish and little red meat. This diet supposedly protects the heart and arteries and prolongs life.

***According to the latest survey on alcohol purchasing habits nationwide, Canadians purchased $18.8 billion worth of alcoholic beverages in 2007-2008, resulting to a 4.3% increase compared to the previous year.

Beer remained the top choice for Canadians but there are signs of decline. Drinkers in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario were the largest contributors in keeping the beer market afloat but wine consumption is on the rise, rising from 18% of sales in 1993 to 29%.

The Canadian trend is wine over spirits. Sales of red wine, both red and rose account for 62% of the total volume of red and white wine sold. The sales of red wine more than doubled since 2000.

---Vancouver Sun columnist Harvey Enchin wrote in his column that the current generation is the most affluent that ever lived. He based his report from Statistic Canada’s evaluation that Canadians’ total assets, everything from pensions, stocks and bonds to principal residences, amounted to more than $5.6 trillion in 2005, about 1.4 times the estimate of $3.9 trillion in 1999.

But the median figure marks the real wealth of Canada’s urban families. Not all of Canada’s more than 13 million family units have fared equally well. Nearly 70% of all personal wealth is held by 20% of households with the highest net worth.

It is not surprising that net worth was highest for families led by persons aged 55 to 65 since they had the most time to accumulate assets. Total assets for family units led by this group rose by 69% while assets for those under 35 rose by only 4%.

Within a decade, the number of seniors over 65 will outnumber children under the age of 15, and by 2026 they will make up 22% of the population, compared with only 13% in 2005.

Another leading columnist wrote that Canada has lost its “sugar daddy”, meaning the American consumer. And unless Canada finds new ways to fuel the economy, growth will be slow for years and unemployment will remain high. Canada’s exports will drop as consumption in the US falls.

Culture shock in Vancouver

I migrated to Vancouver, Canada last May 12, 2007. So, it’s been over a month now since I have been here. Over a month now...and I’m still reeling from what can only be due to culture shock.

It seem not long ago when I was lecturing about the very same thing in my Sociology class back in Davao. It seems not long ago when I was discussing theories of migration in Population Studies.

It seems not so long ago when all the pre-departure seminars were preparing us for it. But alas! No amount of reading, lecturing, and warnings could ever prepare you for it. It is a shocking experience indeed.

Don't get me wrong. I have experienced this before -- going to the big city for college, working in a foreign country, visiting new locales, but I guess, it really feels different when it starts to sink in that I went here not to study, or work or visit, but this place actually is my new home.

So what makes the culture here different from ours? Here are a few:

•The weather. Yep, I know, I should not be shocked. Everybody knows it is cold here. But knowing about it and really feeling the cold is a whole different ball game. I came here in spring but I still had to wear two or three layers of clothing when I go out! The sun may be shining but the wind is cold! Yep, it’s true. Do not go out with wet hair because it’s going to give you a splitting headache.

•Weather forecasts. Back in the Philippines, I hardly pay attention to the weather news unless a typhoon is coming. Now, I have to watch it every morning with my morning cereal to know how I should dress up, if I should bring an extra coat or carry an umbrella.

•Sun is up in the evenings. It’s the end of spring and the beginning of summer, so the sun is up even at 8 or 9 pm. On my first few days, I don’t even feel hungry for dinner because I feel that it’s still 4 pm even if it’s 8 pm. I had to close the curtains so it would seem dark and I could finally eat dinner.

•Milk. People here are milk drinkers. I now usually have it in the mornings. That’s a shock considering that I don’t drink milk in the Philippines unless it’s in halo-halo.

•Jeeps and buses. Public transit here consists of the buses, taxis, trains, seabus and skytrain. All (except the taxi) are on schedule. So, when I want to go somewhere, I have to wait for the bus. I miss the time when I can just go to the street and immediately hail a jeepney or an FX taxi.

•Pedestrian rules. Yipee! Here pedestrians really rule. When people want to cross the street, the cars must give way. In the Philippines (especially in Manila) when you want to cross the street, “bahala ka na sa buhay mo"

•Picket fences. Most houses don’t have fences unlike houses in the Philippines where houses are separated by high concrete walls. Fences here, if there is one, are made of wood or plants and are usually as high as the knee or waist.

•Big servings. Even Filipino restaurants here have really big servings of food. One serving can actually serve 2 or 3 people...Remember the one piece chicken or pork they usually serve in carinderias? Not anymore.

•Resumes. No pictures in resumes!!! One does not also indicate one’s age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, religion, civil status, and race in one’s resume to avoid discrimination. Remember, bio-data forms we fill up back in the Philippines.

•Liquour stores. Some friends and I went to the grocery last weekend hoping to buy some beer and pulutan. To our disappointment, there are no liquors sold in grocery stores! It seems that there is a store that specifically sells this kind of drink. I Miss the days when I can just go to the nearby sari-sari store and enjoy a bottle of beer.

•Handicap-friendly. Having a disability here does not equate with losing independence. People who are blind, deaf or in wheelchairs can go around the city by themselves! Thanks to handicap friendly public transportation and infrastructure. That handicap sign posted in restrooms, buses and parking lots? It really does have meaning and purpose here.

The above are just few examples of the differences in our culture. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s paradise here. I’m just saying that it’s different...and the difference can be shocking.
Ooopps...and yes folks...people expect you to be on time...

Filipinos in Europe

Italy

In Italy, Filipinos rank fourth in the population register of migrant communities, coming after the Moroccans, North Americans and Tunisians. Official records registered 42,072 legally residing Filipinos in April 1991, while other non-governmental organizations and research institutions offer a more realistic figure of between 175,000 - 200,000, including the unauthorized workers, making Italy the country with the biggest concentration of Filipino migrants in the whole of Europe.

An important feature in the population is theoverwhelming presence of women, approximately 160,000 or 80% of the total number. Over 90% are employed in the service sector, mainly as private domestic helpers. They are concentrated in the cities and outlying areas of Rome, Bologna, Florence, Milan and Naples.

Britain

Excerpted from "Community Profile: The Filipino Community and the role of the Commission for Filipino Migrant Workers (CFMW)", by Ms Teresita C. Leus. The paper is posted in full at the EuroKabayan website.

Filipino migrant workers came to Britain in large numbers during the 1970s, in a response to a short-lived labor shortage during this boom period. According to the UK Department of Employment, 20,226 work permits were issued to Filipinos between 1968 and 1980. Some 47% of the work permits were issued for those who came to work in hospitals and welfare homes as hospital auxiliaries, catering workers and to nurse-trainees. The second biggest category of work permits were for chambermaids, followed by catering and waitering staff.

Not all Filipinos came with working permits, many came in as students and visitors, and who were able to change their residence permits to be able to work. Some Filipinas came in through marriage bureaux, while others as domestic servants accompanying their employers (diplomats or Middle Eastern royalty, etc.). All categories of migrants generally then applied to be joined by their families.

The Immigration Act of 1971 and subsequent legislation imposed restrictions that made (legal) primary immigration virtually impossible for the community. Work permits for unskilled labor were withdrawn, and many of those who entered with work permits were forced to leave. Domestic servants, however, were still allowed to enter (outside the Immigration rules) as a concession to their employers. This arrangement led to widespread abuses of these domestics, since they were not allowed to stay if they left their employers.

There are varying estimates of the number of Filipinos residing in the UK. Estimates by CFMW-London are: between 40,000-50,000 Filipinos in London and about 65,000 to 90,000 in the UK as a whole. The majority of Filipinos in the UK are women - 65% is the current estimate. While Filipino migrant workers are scattered all over Britain the greatest concentration is in London. The majority live in the London Boroughs of Camden, Newham, Islington, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham.

The majority of the first wave of migrants were college educated (in 1979, 90% of female Filipino migrants had at least 2 years of college education). Many were trained as nurses, teachers, engineers and accountants. However, because of restrictions on work permits, they came in as unskilled labor. Second generation Filipinos and those that came in as family members or students have faired better. As a community, there is a growing trend towards professional qualifcations and employment in the second generation.

The full text of this profile is posted at the Community Information section of the EuroKabayan site.

Spain

Combined figures of the Filipino Chaplaincy, migrant organizations in Barcelona and official Spanish government data estimates the population of Filipinos at 50,000. Post-regularization data officially registered 25,000 Filipinos in 1992. Before these regularization campaigns, about 75% of the community did not have any legal status. 85% of the population are women.

As in Italy, an estimated 90% of the population are also lemployed mainly as private domestic helpers. Because of the type of work they are engaged in, most Filipinos are found in the cities, e.g. Barcelona, Madrid, and around the tourist areas, e.g. Malaga, Las Palmas and the Balearic Islands, where they find work in holiday villas, hotels and restaurants. A small section of the community have become self-employed, establishing businesses in catering, shipping and freight, and modest import-export ventures.

A report on the educational attainment of Filipino migrants in Spain revealed the following data: 41% have completed university studies, including degrees in Commerce, AB Economics, Dentistry, Secretarial, BS Education, BS Elementary Education, Medical Technology, Midwifery and Nursing. Many held professional jobs before leaving the Philippines.

Greece

The Filipino population in Greece has now reached 40,000, 90% of whom are women. This is according to estimates of Kasapi-Hellas, an organization of the Filipino migrant community there. Some 60%-70% of this population is undocumented. This number is set to increase with the implementation of a new law which limits to five years the maximum length of stay of migrant workers in Greece.

Majority (95%) of the Filipino migrant workers are employed as domestic workers, working in homes of rich Greek families. A growing number are also being employed by middle-income families, to enable both husband and wife to engage in paid employment. Many are employed as domestic staff of diplomatic missions to Greece. Still within the service sector, some work in restaurants and hotels. The limited number of nurses who worked before in hospitals have had to earn their living later on as domestic helpers, since the government stopped the issuance of work and residence permits for them. A small number of Filipinas are married to Greek men.

Of the migrants in Greece, 35% are college graduates with work experience, and 25% finished high school.

Germany

In the case of Germany, there were two waves of migration, according to a member of the Philippinenburo, a resource center on the Philippines. The first wave of migration, which began in the early 1970s, consisted of nurses and midwives who worked in Germany's hospitals and retirement homes. The second wave was in the 1980s, and composed mainly of Filipinas married to German men.

In 1990, the number of officially registered Filipinos in Germany from the Statistics Office in Wiesbaden totalled 21,484, with about 80% of them women. Not included in these figures are those who have acquired German citizenship, and the undocumented migrant workers throughout the country. Based on estimates of various Filipino migrant organizations and non-government agencies in Germany, the total number of undocumented Filipino migrant workers could easily reach 20,000.

There is also a significant number married to German nationals. In the past years, an annual average of 1000 women applied at the Philippine Embassy for a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. An estimated 1500 Filipinos are added each year to the current migrant population through marriage.

France

The majority of the estimated 18,000 Filipinos in France work as domestic helpers. Half of these are in the 26-35 years age bracket, followed by the 36-45 years group with 29%, 16% are in the 16-25 years age range, while the 46-60 years range has only 6%.

Those who have stayed 1-7 years comprise 80% of the Filipino migrant population, while 15% have lived in France for 8-15 years.

Almost all (95%) of Filipino migrant workers in France are women, and only 5% are professionals. 60% of the Filipinas are either married, separated or widowed, while the remaining 40% are single (including single mothers). Of those who are married, 10% are married to French nationals. 5% are practicing their professions as artists, writers, managerial workers, and there are also many students in the various universities in France.

Of the women workers, an alarming high 90% are unauthorized, having no legal documents. The large number of Filipinos who came in the 1980s had availed of tourist visas which were then easily obtainable for entering France.

Austria

Some 20,000 Filipino nurses, majority of them women, work in the different hospitals of Austria. A large concentration of these nurses can be found in the big cities such as Vienna. Most of the nurses are recent graduates from the Philippines with only two to three years of work experience. Their average age is between 24 to 34 years old. There are also a few hundreds working as domestics and chambermaids.

The Netherlands

Taken from the report of "Philippine International Migration:Issues and Concerns of the Filipino Migrants in the Netherlands, on 24 November 1997.

Filipinos have come to the Netherlands as nurses and seamstresses (1960s), seafarers (beginning in the 1970s), spouses in intercultural marriages, performing artists, students and political refugees (1980s), and au pairs and oil rig workers (1990).

According the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, there were a total of 5462 Filipinos in the Netherlands in January 1996. The Filipino community estimates that there are between 7000 to 10,000 Filipino residents in the Netherlands, not counting the children of Filipino couples and mixed marriages. In addition, at least 300 Filipino seamen pass Dutch ports daily, and around 500 Filipinos work in the oil rigs in the North Sea. About 1500 Filipinas are in the country as au pairs (about a third of the total in the Netherlands).

Belgium

About 60% of the migrant community in Belgium are undocumented. Majority (85%) of the migrants are women, most of whom are employed in private domestic work. Particularly in Brussels, many of the women are employed as domestic staff in diplomatic missions. There is a preference for Filipinos by the diplomatic corps, especially because they are known to be well-educated, hard working, not trouble-makers, and speak very good English. As in France, Spain and Italy, Filipino domestic helpers have become a status symbol for their employers.

Other important sections of the migrant population include the seafarers who either transit on board international vessels in Antwerp, or "stand-by" while waiting to be hired, or "jump ship" and take up employment on land. Some of them also marry into the resident Filipino community or find Belgian or other European partners. Especially in bars and nightclubs around the port area, Filipina entertainers, "cultural artists" and dancers are recruited by an international network of traffickers to engage in prostitution.

Ireland

The number of officially registered Filipinos in Ireland was 257 in 1991, 90% of whom were women. Most of the earliest arrivals were married to Irish nationals; later Filipinos came in as domestic workers in diplomatic missions.

Other Countries

Recent data on the Filipino communities in other countries of Europe, e.g. Switzerland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland are still missing (they weren't included in the 1995 CFMW-Kaibigan report).

---

Summary: Population

Country	Estimated No. of Filipinos
Italy	200,000
Britain	80,000
Spain	50,000
Greece	40,000
Germany	40,000
France	18,000
Austria	20,000
The Netherlands	10,000
Subtotal	460,000

If we consider the presence of Filipinos in the other 8 European countries, the total number of Filipinos in Europe would be about 500,000.

Global Recession on Pinoys

Most of the world's migrants go abroad because there are few job prospects in their home countries. Now the economic crisis is forcing many to return, and poverty awaits them back in the villages. So it has been with Michael dela Cruz. In 2004, the Filipino electrician left his hometown of Hagonoy outside Manila to become a machine operator on the assembly line of a South Korean car-parts factory. The $1,600 he earned there each month allowed his wife to rent a house and put two of their three children into private school.

But in mid-2007, Dela Cruz's fortunes began to flag as production at the factory slowed and overtime vanished. By 2008, his paycheck had been halved, and he rarely worked more than three days a week. Then in December, the South Korean firm filed for bankruptcy and Dela Cruz lost his job. With his visa about to expire, he reluctantly returned to Hagonoy, where he was forced to move his family in with his in-laws. "I can't find a job here," Dela Cruz says, "and if I did, the salary is too low to support a family."

Not all are returning home. Many unemployed migrants prefer their new homes and opt to remain, even though they wind up living a kind of shadow existence at the fringes of the labor force, competing illegally with native workers for increasingly scarce jobs. "They will settle to be illegal," says Manolo Abella, a Bangkok-based expert on regional migration for the International Labor Organization. "Migrants often tolerate all sorts of abuse and deprivation just to stay and earn a wage." Last year, Kurama Lingham left his wife and daughter and his life as a shepherd in the southern Indian province of Andhra Pradesh for Dubai. He landed work on a construction site, but as the economy sank, his employer slashed his wages so much that he could barely feed himself, let alone send money to his family in India as he had hoped to do. Four months ago, he quit his job, but can't find another. Now he is homeless, sleeping in a public park in the nearby emirate of Sharjah. Going back to India, though, could be even worse. He owes $3,600 back home on a loan he took in order to move to Dubai in the first place. "My mind isn't working," he says. "I am too afraid to think."

The fate of migrants like Dela Cruz and Lingham underscores a growing problem for the developing world posed by the global recession. Remittances from overseas workers — small dollops of cash sent home by workers to sustain families — add up to a major source of income for tens of millions of the world's poor. The World Bank estimates remittances to developing countries totaled $305 billion in 2008, triple the amount of development aid provided to poor nations. Remittances, however, are projected to shrink at least 5% this year.

Countries with economies that receive a significant boost from remittances, such as Nepal and the Philippines, are desperate to keep their overseas workers abroad and earning. Officials in Manila are sending government teams to Qatar and Guam in the coming weeks to market the services of Filipino workers; even Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo traveled to Dubai in early April to meet with potential employers. But some NGOs in Manila worry that recent hard-won improvements in working conditions for migrants will be sacrificed just to keep them employed. This month, the government announced that Arroyo favored lifting a ban on deploying workers to Jordan and Lebanon, which was imposed due to poor security and job conditions. "The standards for [overseas] employment were getting higher and higher, but when you have a crisis, you sell the workers wherever you can," says Fabio Baggio, director of the Scalabrini Migration Center in Manila. (A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs says the ban won't be removed until agreements are finalized to ensure worker welfare.)