Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic to the

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

CASE STUDY

Submitted to: Mr. Jay M. Lopez, LPT.

Submitted by: BSHM 2-A

Cruz, Cristina M.

Ebdane, Shery Ann F.

Martinez, Rafael B.

Menorca, Sherilyn J.

Montoya, Melgie Ann S.

Orobia, Camel Joyce H.

 I. Introduction

This case study is about the impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic which encountered by the

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. In such way, we can understand the

situations and experiences that they through and how they successfully deal those. In addition,

to know and be informed about the significance of this study.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) may have an unfavorable experience due to the

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic but this would not stop them from continuous

working hard to make a living. Working in the Arab Nation feels safe because they are having a

strict health protocols that established to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19, Fernando

Robles Jr. said, a florist of Chelsea Boutique in Kuwait. Robles has to remain optimistic for his

family while fighting with the impact of COVID-19 crisis, such as many of the OFWs all over the

world.

The Department of Labor and Employment, has released a one-time cash grant worth

Php 10,000 to each OFW who has been affected their employment by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine Government during Duterte's term ensured the OFWs who choose to stay

abroad would also receive an equal treatment by distributing financial assistance to them. The

monetary aid that she received was more than enough to cope with the COVID-19 crisis,

Jocelyn Evangelista said, an assistant teacher in a nursery in Abu Dhabi.

According to the figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, a total of 300,

838 OFWs all over the world as of December 2020 has been brought back to the Philippines

since the government launched the repatriation program in February last year.

II. Objectives and Statement of the Problem

Objectives
 1. To identify the impacts of COVID-19 to the OFWs and to their families, and how this

pandemic affects their life.

2. To identify how the family members and OFWs have eventually coped with the

situation brought by COVID-19.

Statement of the Problem

1. What are the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic to their selves, to their jobs, and to

their families?

2. Is the COVID-19 pandemic have caused stress or depression? In what way?

3. Is the situation of COVID-19 pandemic brought changes to their family relationship?

How?

4. How do they overcome the struggles they are still encountering because of the

COVID-19 pandemic?

III. Method and Procedure

Researchers can analyze complex phenomena in their surroundings using a qualitative

case study approach. In health science analysis, the technique may be used to develop

hypotheses, evaluate projects, and suggest therapies when used properly. The aim of this

paper is to assist a new researcher in determining the essential variables to consider while

developing and implementing qualitative case study projects (Baxter & Jack, 2015).

The researchers conduct an interview about The Impact of COVID- 19 to the Overseas

Filipino Workers (OFWs) and to their families through messenger chat. This will happen by

preparing a set of interview questions that can recognize the impacts and by looking for a total

of eight participants that consist of four OFWs and a family member for each of them. After

doing virtual interview the researchers will analyze the responses of the participants to get the

information needed in the study.

IV. Discussion of Data

OFW PARTICIPANT 1 FAMILY MEMBER OF PARTICIPANT 1

Age: 33 years old Age: 30 years old

Gender: Male Gender: Female

Occupation: Butcher Occupation: N/A (Housewife)

Country of work: Qatar Relationship to the OFW: Wife

OFW PARTICIPANT 3 FAMILY MEMBER OF PARTICIPANT 3

Age: 44 years old Age: 20 years old

Gender: Female Gender: Female

Occupation: Domestic Helper Occupation: Student

Country of work: Oman Relation to the OFW: Daughter

OFW PARTICIPANT 4 FAMILY MEMBER OF PARTICIPANT 4

Age: 28 years old Age: 23 years old

Gender: Female Gender: Female

Occupation: QC inspector Occupation: Loan Officer/OIC

Country of Work: Taiwan Relation to the OFW: Sister

OFW PARTICIPANT 5 FAMILY MEMBER OF PARTICIPANT 5

Age: 27 years old Age: 18 years old

Gender: Female Gender: Female

Occupation: domestic helper Occupation: Student

Country of work: Hongkong Relation to the OFW: Sister

Table 1. Socio-demographic Profiles of the Participants

 Based on the table above, most of the participants are female and their age ranges from

27 years old to 44 years old. Their family members who participated are all female and their age

ranges from 18 years old to 30 years old.

For the first theme whish is anxiety, all of the participants got anxious because of the

situation. They are worried for their health and on what would their situation in the future.

COVID-19 pandemic caused stress among them because of all the worries they are having on

their mind. The OFWs are worried because they don’t know how can they send their money to

their families during the lockdown and their family members felt worry about their family who are

away from them and working overseas because they are apart from each other.

The second theme is apart. One of the family members among the participants are

worried because they can’t be together physically as of the moment but the rest of the

participants are contented with the communication they are having with their family with the help

of the internet.

For the last theme which is attentive, OFWs and their left-behind families maintain to

have a consistent communication within each other through chatting or calling using different

social media platforms. During COVID-19 pandemic, most of the people are not allows to go

outside and in fact, this regulation brought a good impact for some of the participants for the

reason that they are not just having a consistent communication but they also encounter a good

changes and improvement within their relationship as a family.

The OFWs and their left-behind family are overcoming this situation by staying firm and

having faith with each other and in God. Also, having a good communication within their family

helps them with their homesick and longing for each other.
References:

Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2015). Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and

Implementation for Novice Researchers. Retrieved May 17, 2021, from NSUWorks website:

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol13/iss4/2/

Gita-Carlos, R. (2021, January 24). OFWs staying put in host countries to make a living.

Retrieved from Philippine News Agency website: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1128359