MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the Overseas Labor Market Forum for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 2025, held on Thursday in Mandaluyong City, will help shape the future of the international labor market.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the forum convened over 200 attendees, including foreign diplomats, industry leaders, and experts, and discussed the future of the international labor market with a focus on expanding employment opportunities, enhancing worker protection, and improving the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.
DMW’s Foreign Stakeholders Relations and Engagement Bureau (FSREB) under the Office of Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation (OUPIC) Patricia Yvonne Caunan, who led the event, said participants include ambassadors and representatives of Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
Furthermore, over 100 Philippine recruitment agencies participated both in person and online, with discussion centering on the demand for green jobs, Filipino healthcare workers, skilled professionals, and other sectors critical to host economies.
“This forum is a milestone in building stronger partnerships with host countries and ensuring our OFWs thrive in a competitive global market, committed to safeguarding worker welfare, promoting ethical recruitment, and creating pathways for Filipino talents to excel,” Caunan said.
Meanwhile, Cacdac assured the DMW is deeply committed to strengthening partnerships with international stakeholders.
He said the initiative is part of the efforts under the Bagong Pilipinas governance agenda, where the DMW serves as the dedicated “Tahanan ng OFWs” (Home of OFWs).
“Our unwavering focus is on promoting ethical, orderly, transparent, and sustainable recruitment, ensuring worker protection, and advancing initiatives that prioritize the rights and welfare of OFWs and their families,” he said.
Cacdac noted that an agreement with Canada allows for the hiring of Filipino nurses under the Alberta initiative, providing financial and educational support to facilitate their transition.
Meanwhile, Austria has partnered with the Philippines to recruit Filipino nurses and other skilled professionals to address its healthcare sector needs, while Singapore formalized a framework for the deployment and reintegration of Filipino healthcare workers.
In Croatia, agreements include free language courses to help Filipino professionals integrate successfully, while the Czech Republic established labor consultations under its Economic Migration-Qualified Worker Programme to ensure fair and ethical recruitment.
Japan, meanwhile, remains a vital partner of the Philippines, with active deployment under the Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) and Japan Technical Intern Training Program (TITP).
Taiwan, on the other hand, continues to recruit Filipino workers for its manufacturing, construction, and oceanic fishery industries.
Aside from these countries, the DMW also announced plans to expand agreements with Slovenia, Finland, Hungary, and additional Canadian provinces.
Cacdac also highlighted South Korea as a growing market for OFWs.
“Currently, the DMW has sent a delegation to South Korea to discuss the EPS (Employment Permit System), the Seasonal Workers Program in partnership with LGUs through sisterhood agreements with its counterpart in Korea, the Pilot Care Program, and other mutual concerns,” he added.
However, Cacdac also reminded attendees of the importance of migration as a choice rather than a necessity, which should also serve as a pathway for personal and professional growth and not an obligation driven by limited opportunities.
The forum, he said, demonstrates the Philippines’ commitment to enhancing the role of OFWs in the global workforce while ensuring their protection and success abroad. (PNA)