Filipinos in Oman

Filipinos in Oman

Total population
(40,000–46,000[1] (2011) )
Languages
Tagalog or other languages of the Philippines, English and Arabic
Religion
Roman Catholicism or other Christian denominations, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Filipino people, Overseas Filipinos

Filipinos in Oman are either migrants or descendants of the Philippines living in Oman. As of 2011, there are between 40,000 and 46,000 of these Filipinos in Oman.^[1] A large destination for Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Oman was the only Middle Eastern nation included on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's list of nations safe for OFWs.^[1] The country still holds the title up to this day.

Economy and employment

Oman is the tenth largest destination for Filipino domestic workers hired or rehired from 2006–2011,^[2] but Filipinos are also employed in the health care industry as physicians and nurses,^[3] or as sales associates and cosmetologists.^[4]

Oman is a source of remittances sent back to the Philippines, with roughly $66.5 million USD sent back in 2011 and $55.8 million USD officially sent back in 2010.^[5] Five Filipino banks have correspondent accounts with banks in Oman to allow for remittance transfers.^[6]

There is also a Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in Oman that seeks to help overseas Filipino workers with employment issues.^[7] Due to migrant worker protection laws, Filipino workers generally face fewer abuses in Oman than in other Middle Eastern countries.^[1] However, the FWRC frequently handles cases in which Filipino workers flee from neighboring countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, into Oman seeking assistance.^[8]

Society and culture

In 2012, the Philippine Embassy in Oman opened the Sentro Rizal Cultural Center and Library in Muscat to provide cultural resources for Filipinos living abroad as well as other residents of Oman. Philippine Ambassador to Oman Joselito A. Jimeno stated that "the aim of the library is really for children of overseas Filipinos to reconnect with our history and politics and literature."^[9]

Philippine School Sultanate of Oman (PSSO), commonly known as Philippine School Muscat, is a private international school in the Al-Khuwair district of Muscat that serves the Overseas Filipino community. The school was established in 1989 and opened in 1990, It has over 750 students from pre-school level to fourth year high school but has started the K-12 program for school year 2012-2013. While the majority of the students are overseas Filipinos, other foreign national students attend the school as well.^[10] The school is accredited by the Philippine Department of Education.^[11] After graduation in high school, many students go home to the Philippines and enroll to schools like University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and other universities and colleges in the Philippines to complete their post-secondary education.^[10]

Philippine holidays such as Independence Day and Bonifacio Day, commemorating the Philippine Declaration of Independence and Filipino nationalist Andrés Bonifacio respectively, are celebrated in Oman.^[12][13]

References

1. "'Oman: Safest Country for Filipinos in Middle East'". Pinoy OFW. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
2. "DOLE plans to end deployment of maids overseas in 5 years". Global Nation Inquirer. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
3. Japitana, Norma (24 February 1988). "Weekend in Oman". Manila Standard. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
4. "Ambassador's Short Essays: Foreigners working in Oman". Embassy of Japan in the Sultanate of Oman. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
5. "Overseas Filipinos' Cash Remittances". Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
6. "Philippine Banks With Remittance Networks Abroad" (PDF). Scalabrini Migration Center. p. 6. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
7. "OFWs warned vs crossing Oman boarders". Sun Star. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
8. "15 runaway Filipino domestic workers 'trapped' in Oman". GMA News. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
9. "Philippines Opens Cultural Centre in Oman". Pinoy OFW. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
10. "New grads of PHL school in Oman to return home for college". GMA News. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
11. "Philippine School". IACPSO. 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
12. "Filipino community marks 114th Independence Day". Oman Daily Observer. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
13. Guzman, Jimmyley (3 December 2012). "Phl Embassy in Oman celebrates Bonifacio Day with Filipino children". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 6 January 2013.