The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Friday that Filipino domestic workers employed overseas will soon receive a higher minimum monthly wage of $500, marking the first increase since 2006 when the rate was set at $400.
DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac confirmed that he will sign the order establishing the new minimum pay. “There can be a higher wage rate, of course, depending on the host country, but this is a step that will establish a floor level,” he said.
The policy, which followed six months of consultation with various stakeholders, forms part of seven new reforms designed to strengthen the protection and welfare of Filipino domestic workers. Cacdac admitted that enforcement could be difficult for undocumented workers but expressed hope that the measure would encourage more to go through official DMW channels.
The reforms were pushed into motion after concerns raised by Senator Raffy Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, who warned of budget cuts if cases of abuse against overseas Filipinos persisted.
Among the additional measures is a “Know Your Employer” protocol, requiring domestic workers to hold a video call with their employers before deployment. The DMW is also rolling out the “Kumusta Kabayan” digital monitoring system, a mobile app that allows workers to check in about their well-being. According to DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay, the app has already reached 20,000 workers, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Other reforms include stronger training and career mobility programs, stricter standards for recruitment agencies—covering accommodations, legal aid, and whitelisting—and a 60-day grace period for agencies to comply with the new rules.
