Long delays in releasing money owed to Filipino workers and their relatives are the target of a new arrangement that the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) here entered into with the Philippine Embassy, signed on 5 June 2026 as the office opened its Migrant Workers Day observance.
Under the deal, blood money, End-of-Service Benefits and other labor-related entitlements will move through a defined channel covering how such funds are transferred, managed and released. The intent, according to officials, is to cut the waiting time on settlements that have lingered, in some cases for years.
Labor Attaché Ma. Teresa B. Olgado tied the timing to the meaning of the day itself. “On Migrant Workers Day, we honor not only the hard work and sacrifices of our Overseas Filipino Workers, but also reaffirm our duty to ensure that every Filipino worker and their family receive the protection, assistance, and justice they deserve,” she said.
The Department of Migrant Workers framed the document as a way to sharpen cooperation between the embassy and the MWO. “Through the MOA, MWO Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Embassy will strengthen their coordination to provide faster, more organized, and compassionate assistance to OFWs, especially those seeking long-awaited claims and settlements,” the agreement states.
The UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Filipinos abroad, with workers spread across numerous industries in both Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates. Roughly 650,000 Filipinos are based in the country.
The observance falls within the period the Philippines sets aside each year for its migrant workforce. The commemoration traces back to Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act passed in 1995, which committed the government to safeguarding the welfare of citizens employed overseas.
