SINGAPORE – The great age of global labor is imminent and world nations must now regulate the influx of human capital to shield them from all forms of abuse, according to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

At the opening of the 17th Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting here, the President sought to “put order” in labor mobility, led by skilled overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as trade of goods and services continue to expand across the world.

In her advocacy promoting workers' rights, the President said global labor was a “real global phenomenon” that will come this century, adding that millions of Filipinos employed across the world are the “pioneers.”

“One of the major dynamics of the 21st century is likely to be the flow not just of financial capital, not just goods and services, but human capital. The flow of labor will determine much how the world grows and works together,” she told a group of Filipino workers gathered at the posh Fullerton Hotel last Friday night.

“We now have a lot of trades in goods, services, and communication, and we are now also set to enter a great age of global labor. Today, it is the Filipinos who are the leaders but tomorrow there will be many, many countries which doing this,” she added.

The President, on a three-day visit here since Friday, said world leaders must tap the possibilities of global labor and stop the abuse that preys on workers from all walks of life.

As the market becomes sophisticated with the entry of professionals and business executives, she said that there should be more protection for workers particularly those engaged in manual labor because they are the most vulnerable to such abuse.

“We need to put order there the way we placed order in trade. We are pioneers in the new age of global labor and it is obligation to protect our workers wherever they may be,” she added.

Apart from seeking order in global labor at the APEC summit, the President said she would also raise priorities in addressing the crisis and preparing for recovery, supporting the multilateral trading system, accelerating regional integration, and strengthening APEC. The summit, which ends on Sunday, carries the theme “Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region.”

“The world is safer, more secure, and vibrant when leaders from so many nations come together to solve problems and look towards the future together. That is the strength and hope of the APEC meeting — to work hand in hand with our Pacific neighbors to forge a more perfect world,” she said.

Meantime, the President praised anew the overseas Filipino workers for their contributions to the domestic economy, citing their $11-billion remittances since August.

In particular, Filipinos working in Singapore have moved up the value chain of higher paying jobs, including transportation, information technology, banking, and healthcare, she said.

Likewise, she vowed that her administration would continue to generate jobs in the Philippines to prevent Filipinos from looking employment elsewhere.

“My vision is to help make our economy competitive enough so that one day going abroad will just be a career choice, not the only option for our hardworking Filipino workers,” she said.

There are 144,312 Filipinos workers in Singapore, mostly domestic helpers, where minor labor problems, such as maltreatment, unpaid salaries, and poor working conditions, were reported in recent years. (Genalyn Kabiling)