Filipino hospitality workers now have a pathway to safer and more ethical job opportunities in Croatia, following the formal launch of a government-to-government recruitment initiative between the Philippines and the Eastern European nation.
On July 17, 2025, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay and Croatian Employment Service Director General Ante Loncar signed the Implementing Guidelines for the Pilot Project on the Recruitment and Employment of Filipino Hotel Workers in Croatia. The virtual signing was also witnessed by Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas and Croatian Labor and Employment Directorate Director Luka Čirko.
This agreement marks a major step forward in expanding employment options for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to promote ethical and secure overseas labor migration.
Under the arrangement, Croatian employers will shoulder recruitment-related expenses, except for certain fees allowed by mutual agreement. A dispute resolution system based on both countries’ labor laws has also been put in place to safeguard the rights of workers.
To ensure readiness, hired Filipino workers will undergo a Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), followed by a Pre-Flight Briefing by the DMW’s Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau (PEGPB).
The newly signed guidelines stem from the broader Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Labour Market, signed on October 4, 2024, and ratified by President Marcos on January 23, 2025.
