The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates renewed their commitment to strengthening migrant worker protection and ensuring a smooth employment process for Filipinos in the Gulf nation during a high-level Joint Committee Meeting held on October 30, 2025, in Pasig City.
The meeting, convened under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to place OFW welfare at the center of policy action, brought together senior officials from both governments to refine cooperative measures, align on reforms, and expand existing labor programs.
Leading the Philippine side were Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretaries Jainal T. Rasul Jr. and Bernard Olalia, joined by key representatives from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Philippine missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The UAE delegation was headed by Khalil Yousif Alkhoori, Undersecretary for Labour Market Operations and Emiratization, together with UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi and other labor officials.
Talks covered updates on UAE labor policies, improved verification systems for recruitment processes, and the creation of a centralized document-processing system for domestic worker hiring. Both parties also discussed the rollout of an online Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for Filipino household staff and the implementation of the DMW’s enhanced reform program for domestic workers.
“Our meeting today reaffirms our mutual commitment to strengthening the spirit of friendship and cooperation, and to advancing our shared goal of promoting the rights and welfare of our workers by simultaneously addressing the labor needs of both countries,” said Usec. Rasul, emphasizing the importance of shared responsibility and continued coordination.
The dialogue also placed strong focus on ethical recruitment practices and transparent employer-worker arrangements under UAE’s TADBEER system, highlighting the two nations’ joint goal of safeguarding the rights of Filipino workers in one of the world’s largest migrant hubs.
Both sides agreed to sustain ongoing policy reviews and coordination efforts to further improve welfare standards and ensure fair, safe, and ethical employment pathways for Filipinos in the UAE.
