September 26,
The Philippines, through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have renewed their commitment to fair recruitment and strengthened fight against human trafficking on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
In a news release on Friday, the DMW said Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo discussed key issues concerning migrant workers’ protection and labor migration governance during a high-level meeting in New York on Wednesday.
“Secretary Cacdac outlined the Philippines’ ongoing and planned initiatives to strengthen labor protection for migrant workers, with a particular focus on vulnerable sectors like fishers and domestic workers,” the DMW said.
“He highlighted collaborative efforts with the ILO and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in developing a fair recruitment checklist, based on the ILO Code of Conduct,” it added.
Cacdac said the fair recruitment checklist aims to promote ethical hiring practices and protect migrant workers from abuse.
He also stressed the need to enhance support for vulnerable workers like fishers and domestic workers, who are more prone to abuse.
During the meeting, Cacdac cited the Philippine government’s efforts that include the DMW’s current domestic workers reform program initiative, which pushes for an increase in the minimum wage from USD400 to USD500, and the implementation of the “Know Your Employer” protocol to improve transparency and accountability.
Cacdac also requested the ILO’s support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN in 2026, while expressing hope for the establishment of a regional mechanism to further improve migrant workers’ protection.
Meanwhile, Houngbo praised the Philippines as a global model in labor migration governance, reaffirming the ILO’s commitment to provide technical assistance and engage destination countries on reforms benefiting domestic workers.
He also emphasized that the Philippines’ initiatives closely align with the ILO’s mandate to promote decent work worldwide.
The meeting between Cacdac and Huongbo concluded with a pledge to expand Philippines–ILO cooperation in safeguarding overseas workers’ rights and welfare and promoting decent work for all migrant workers. (PNA)