Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has strengthened its services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including Filipino seafarers, over the past year through its expanded digital services, intensified anti-illegal recruitment operations, enhanced welfare programs, and stronger labor partnerships with foreign governments.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Bagong Pilipinas interview, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated the agency's plans to further expand digitalization efforts and open more overseas offices in countries with significant OFW populations, while also creating more opportunities through skills training and new labor and bilateral agreements with host countries. Cacdac highlighted the DMW's accomplishments, such as the closure of 72 illegal recruitment establishments and securing 36 human trafficking convictions in cooperation with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the courts.
Cacdac noted that approximately 2.2 million workers have been processed, ensuring proper documentation and contract reviews. The OFW Hospital provides free outpatient and inpatient services to around 80,000 patients annually, with a Cancer Care Center anticipated to be operational by 2027. The DMW's digitalization program, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), has issued nearly 500,000 digital OFW Passes, recognized by airlines, negating the need for paper certificates.
Cacdac also mentioned the success of online contract verifications, which have reduced queues at busy Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) like in Dubai. On emergency responses, the DMW has repatriated 10,500 Filipinos from conflict zones in the Middle East and provided financial assistance to 18,000 workers experiencing reduced work conditions, while the One Repatriation Command Center has assisted over 30,000 OFWs since 2022.
The expansion of OFW Lounges at airports, facilitated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Office of the First Lady, has benefited nearly 2 million workers. Additional facilities are planned in Davao City and Zamboanga, with a recent MWO opening in Cambodia and four more planned this year.
On international labor agreements, Cacdac reported that the Philippines has about 65 bilateral agreements, including a recent one with Canada. The DMW continues to engage in dialogue with labor counterparts in the Middle East to ensure OFW welfare amid regional conflicts. The Philippines chairs the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, advocating for migrant worker protection and labor cooperation.
Government-to-government hiring with Croatia has commenced, and negotiations with Slovenia, Lithuania, and other European countries are ongoing. Looking forward, the DMW plans to expand digital services, strengthen skills training with TESDA, and improve reintegration programs for returning OFWs. A Joint Memorandum Circular was signed to expand the Kaalaman Tungo sa Kabuhayan (K2K) Initiative, a skills-to-employment program for returning OFWs and their families, supported by a three billion pesos supplemental AKSYON Fund for legal, medical, and financial assistance.
