On January 24, 2025, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) held a crucial meeting with recruitment agencies responsible for sending Filipino workers to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The focus was on improving the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan emphasized the importance of these consultations, stating that the primary aim is to protect OFWs and potentially save lives.
The dialogue addressed several pressing issues, including the monitoring of workers in their host countries, ensuring adherence to employment contracts, and clarifying the roles of recruitment agencies and their international partners. Caunan highlighted that the OFWs are at the heart of all policy decisions.
These discussions are part of a broader initiative mandated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reassess deployment policies, particularly in Gulf countries, to better protect vulnerable workers. Suggestions from the recruitment agencies included clearer job descriptions in contracts, shorter contract durations, higher wages for domestic workers, and involving families in pre-departure orientations to better prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of working abroad.
The DMW urged the agencies to improve their monitoring of deployed workers and to act swiftly in emergencies. They also stressed the importance of ensuring safe returns for workers at the end of their contracts and reporting any misconduct by foreign recruitment firms to prevent future exploitation and abuse.
Both the DMW and the recruitment agencies reaffirmed their commitment to the protection of OFWs, especially those in domestic roles in Kuwait. The DMW plans to incorporate the insights gained from the dialogue into new policies that may restrict or tighten deployment regulations to enhance OFW welfare.
The consultation involved key stakeholders such as the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc., the Philippine Recruitment Agencies Accredited to Saudi Arabia, and the Coalition of Licensed Recruitment Agencies for Domestic and Service Workers.