The Philippines and India have taken a step toward deeper labor migration cooperation, with officials from both countries agreeing to establish a joint technical working group following bilateral talks on the sidelines of a major international forum.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac met with India’s State Minister for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on May 4, 2026, during the International Migration Review Forum. The working group, which both sides agreed to form, will identify specific priority areas of cooperation and lay the groundwork for a possible formal labor cooperation agreement.
As two of the world’s largest labor-sending countries, the Philippines and India reaffirmed shared commitments to strengthening policies that safeguard migrant workers — covering social protection, wage standards, financial education, reintegration, and welfare fund administration.
Cacdac pointed to digital migration governance as a particular area where the Philippines hopes to learn from India’s experience, while also offering to share Filipino best practices in return. “We are keen to learn from India’s experience, particularly in digital migration governance, as much as we would like to share with them our own best practices in protecting Filipino migrant workers, which are anchored on our rights-based approach to migration,” he said.
Officials from both countries also noted that their combined standing as major labor exporters positions them to influence broader global discussions on labor mobility and migration governance policy.
