Mind & Body

Filipino teachers flourish in Thailand despite odds

Despite not being officially recognized as “skilled labor” in the ASEAN region, Filipino teachers are sought after in neighboring countries. This is evident in Thailand, which has been a steady destination for professionals seeking English-teaching jobs since the late 2000’s.

Ranked 15th in the world by the EF English Proficiency Index in 2017, Filipinos have continued to flock to the Land of Smiles. Recent estimates from the Philippine Embassy shows that there are over 17,000 Filipinos, documented and undocumented, in Thailand.

Dr. Robert Galindez, CEO of Saint Robert’s Group of Companies in Thailand, says that Filipino teachers are probably “the best teachers in the world.”

“They are not only qualified, equipped with the credentials required by the Teacher’s Council in the case of Thailand, but armed with the most important qualification – the love for teaching and the passion to make their students learn and prepare not only for the university, the industry, but to live their lives to the fullest,” says Galindez.

With the open-door policy that came with the establishment of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, migrants from countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines flock to Thailand for job opportunities.

However, under the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), there are only eight professions considered as skilled labor and recognized to work in the ASEAN region – medical doctors, dentists, nurses, architects, engineers, accountants, surveyors, and tourism professionals.

Teachers may be excluded from the list, but it is, nonetheless, the most in-demand job in neighboring non-English speaking countries.

The Rights of Filipino Teachers in Thailand

Known for their adaptability, excellent work ethic, and tolerance for low salaries, Filipinos teachers are becoming in demand in Thailand. This is due to the latter struggling to meet the standard of the ASEAN community in English Language Proficiency.

However, Reuben Esteban, a lecturer at Rajamangala University-Lanna, says that Filipinos should not short-change themselves in exchange of a teaching job.

Esteban has been teaching for nine years, and he notes the unfair labor practices in the country, despite the absence of a policy in the salary gap between Filipinos and Native-English Speakers (NES). “In fact, universities must encourage fair competition between NES and Non-Native Speakers (NNES) in a good way. Color has nothing to do with competency and efficiency in teaching,” he says.

Depending on their qualifications, Teachers in Thailand are paid between 18 thousand to 50 thousand baht. However, at Ajarn.com, a popular site for foreign nationals seeking teaching jobs, the specific salary range for Filipino teachers is 15 thousand baht.

A contract for teachers in Thailand lasts for only a year, but it is renewable depending on performance. The Thai Labor Law covers compensation and benefits, including the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1994 and Working Alien Act of 2008.

via Inquirer / Eunice Barbara C. Novio

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