Manila: The Philippines and Romania have agreed to move forward with renewing their labor cooperation framework and convene the first Joint Committee Meeting under their 2021 memorandum of understanding to strengthen safeguards for Filipino workers in Romania.
According to Philippines News Agency, the agreement-focusing on ethical recruitment, fair working conditions, employer accountability, and social protection-was reached during a bilateral talk on Wednesday in Bucharest. The announcement was made in a news release by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday.
During the meeting with Romanian Minister of Labor, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity Drago?-Nicolae P®slaru and State Secretary Silvia Monica Dinica, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the Philippines' commitment to advancing safe, orderly, and regular labor migration. Cacdac stated that as the Philippines pursues the renewal of the bilateral labor agreement and the establishment of the Migrant Workers Office in Bucharest, the aim is to promote a framework that ensures ethical recruitment and protects Filipino workers' rights while supporting Romania's labor market needs.
Cacdac underscored the Philippines' extensive experience in managing overseas employment and protecting workers throughout the migration process, noting the country's 52-year history in this field. Based on DMW data, there are about 2,000 Filipino temporary migrant workers in Romania as of 2024, with most employed in factories, automotive and production lines, and households.
The Philippine delegation, which included Philippine Ambassador to Romania Noel Eugene Servigon, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, and other officials, also expressed support for Romania's Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026. This recent policy reform overhauls the legal framework for non-European Union labor migration, requiring recruitment agencies and employers to secure licenses and register through a digital system. It also prohibits recruitment agencies from collecting placement fees, commissions, guarantees, or other recruitment-related costs from foreign workers.
Officials from both countries discussed expanding cooperation on social protection, including measures to enhance employer accountability and stronger safeguards for women migrant workers. Meanwhile, Cacdac briefed Romanian officials on the Philippine delegation's visit to Tulcea following attacks on vessels in the Northern Black Sea that began on July 6. The delegation paid tribute to a Filipino chief engineer who died in the incident and met with over 200 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) employed at VARD Tulcea to address their concerns and discuss available assistance.
