New york: The Philippines, through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have renewed their commitment to fair recruitment and strengthened their fight against human trafficking on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DMW reported that Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo engaged in discussions on critical issues concerning the protection of migrant workers and labor migration governance during a high-level meeting in New York. The dialogue focused on initiatives aimed at bolstering labor protection for sectors such as fishers and domestic workers, which are often more susceptible to exploitation.
Secretary Cacdac emphasized the Philippines' ongoing and planned measures to enhance labor protection, highlighting collaborative efforts with the ILO and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in developing a fair recruitment checklist. This checklist, based on the ILO Code of Conduct, is designed to promote ethical hiring practices and safeguard migrant workers from abuse.
Furthermore, Cacdac underscored the importance of supporting vulnerable workers, including fishers and domestic workers. Among the Philippines' initiatives is the DMW's domestic workers reform program, which advocates for an increase in the minimum wage from USD400 to USD500 and the implementation of the "Know Your Employer" protocol to improve transparency and accountability.
During the meeting, Cacdac sought the ILO's backing for the Philippines' leadership of ASEAN in 2026 and expressed hopes for establishing a regional mechanism to further enhance migrant workers' protection. In response, ILO Director-General Houngbo commended the Philippines as a global model in labor migration governance and reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to providing technical assistance and engaging with destination countries on reforms that benefit domestic workers.
The meeting concluded with a pledge to expand cooperation between the Philippines and the ILO in safeguarding overseas workers' rights and welfare while promoting decent work for all migrant workers.
