Austria is set to welcome more Filipino workers as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) strengthens bilateral labor ties with the Austrian government.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac recently met with Austrian Minister Wolfgang Harttsmanndorfer of the Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Tourism to boost labor cooperation and expand employment opportunities for Filipinos in Austria.
Both officials reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen collaboration under the 2023 bilateral agreements that focus on recruiting skilled and professional workers, including nurses.
Minister Harttsmanndorfer expressed Austria’s strong interest in hiring more Filipinos, not just in healthcare but also in caregiving, tourism, and hospitality sectors. He said Austria aims to establish a special hiring arrangement with the Philippines that upholds ethical recruitment practices and ensures worker protection.
Secretary Cacdac welcomed this development, saying Austria’s interest reflects the trust and respect that the country has for the Filipino workforce.
Joining Cacdac during the meeting were Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Bernas, DFA Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim, OWWA Administrator PY Caunan, and DMW Undersecretary J. Rasul Jr.
Currently, around 8,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) reside in Austria, with more than 700 new deployments recorded in the past two years.
