During a series of bilateral and multilateral discussions held in Riyadh, the Department of Migrant Workers positioned ethical recruitment and worker upskilling as central pillars of its overseas employment strategy, engaging counterparts from Europe, South Asia, Africa, and the Gulf.
The meetings took place at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center and brought together labor ministers and officials from Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Bhutan, Djibouti, Egypt, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, and Sri Lanka, alongside representatives of the International Labour Organization.
Leading the Philippine delegation, Hans Leo J. Cacdac underscored the country’s long-standing labor partnerships in the Gulf, pointing to coordinated efforts aimed at tightening recruitment oversight, improving workplace protections, and aligning deployment with host-country labor requirements. He noted that this approach is increasingly tied to skills recognition rather than traditional job classifications.
A key focus of the discussions was the evolving role of Filipino domestic workers, whom Cacdac said are now being formally acknowledged for competencies beyond household tasks. He cited growing demand for trained caregivers in areas such as childcare, elderly assistance, and long-term disability care, reflecting a shift toward more specialized and regulated employment pathways.
“The Gulf region plays a crucial role in global labor mobility, and Saudi Arabia remains one of the main destinations for Filipino workers. By working closely with host countries and the ILO, we can promote fair recruitment systems that protect workers while meeting labor market needs,” Cacdac said.
On the sidelines of the meetings, the DMW chief also participated in the 10th anniversary celebration of MUSANED, where he acknowledged the platform’s role in institutionalizing recruitment procedures within Saudi Arabia’s labor market framework.
