Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officially sealed a government-to-government deal with the Croatian government that would open work opportunities for Filipino workers in the hospitality sector. In a news release on Friday, the DMW said Undersecretary Felicitas Bay signed the Implementing Guidelines for the Pilot Project on the Recruitment and Employment of Filipino Hotel Workers in Croatia in a virtual ceremony with Croatian Employment Service Director General Ante Loncar on Thursday. Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Bernas and Croatian Labor and Employment Director Luka Cirko witnessed the event.
According to Philippines News Agency, under the government-to-government arrangement, Croatian employers will shoulder the recruitment-related costs for Filipino workers subject to permissible fees agreed upon by both parties. Under the arrangement, Filipino hotel workers will be deployed through a streamlined process that ensures a safe, ethical, and transparent hiring process, providing strong OFW protection measures. The agreement also strengthens the bilateral partnership between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a commitment to shared prosperity, while establishing a clear dispute resolution mechanism, guided by both Philippine and Croatian labor laws.
Meanwhile, to prepare Filipino workers before deployment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will conduct pre-departure orientation seminars, while the DMW's Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau will facilitate pre-flight briefings. The DMW said the agreement is part of a broader cooperation initiative based on the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) in the Field of Labor Market, signed by the Philippines and Croatia in October 2024 and ratified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in January. It also reflects the current administration's commitment to expanding ethical and government-facilitated job pathways for Filipino workers. "This milestone marks a significant step toward facilitating safe, ethical, and government-to-government job opportunities for Filipinos in Croatia's hospitality sector," Bay said.
