The Philippines and the Federated States of Micronesia have taken a significant step toward strengthening labor protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the signing of a joint declaration of intent (JDI), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Monday.
The agreement sets the stage for fair, ethical, and sustainable employment of Filipinos in Micronesia, ensuring they enjoy equal benefits and social protection alongside local employees.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Micronesia’s Justice Secretary and Attorney General Leonito Bacalando Jr. signed the JDI, which will also expand deployment opportunities for Filipino workers in sectors such as construction, healthcare, education, and services.
“This is a great step forward, the signing,” said Bacalando. “Filipino contributions are valuable to our nation’s development.”
From 2015 to 2024, nearly 1,900 OFWs have been deployed to Micronesia, according to DMW data. With the new agreement, the deployment process will include tighter coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for proper skills certification and job matching.
In addition to expanding opportunities, the deal reinforces both nations’ commitment to cracking down on irregular migration. Efforts will be ramped up to prevent illegal recruitment, trafficking, smuggling, and fraudulent documentation.
“We will continue working towards a full memorandum of understanding (MOU) that guarantees safe and fair employment for our OFWs,” Cacdac said.
