The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the government of Oman are taking significant steps to enhance labor cooperation aimed at improving the welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while creating more employment opportunities in the Gulf state.
In a news release on Monday evening, the DMW announced that Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac met with Omani Minister of Labor Mahad Bin Said Ali Baawain and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Sadr Bin Hamood Albusaidi in Mandaluyong City. The discussions centered on joint initiatives for safer, more ethical recruitment and fair treatment of Filipino workers in Oman.
A key highlight of the meeting was the pending Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labor Cooperation, which is set to be signed by January 2026. The MOU aims to establish safeguards for Filipino workers through ethical recruitment standards, fair employment terms, joint dispute resolution mechanisms, and regular monitoring via a bilateral Joint Committee.
Minister Baawain indicated that Oman is actively seeking to open more job opportunities for Filipino workers, particularly in roles such as household workers, technicians, port staff, and other skilled professions.
Cacdac emphasized that the DMW is also focused on expanding opportunities and protections for Filipinos across the Middle East, citing Jordan, where over 48,000 OFWs are employed in caregiving, hospitality, beauty services, and food service industries. He highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to enhance the efficiency and security of the deployment process.
“By forging digital partnerships with host countries like Oman, we can make recruitment faster, more transparent, and more worker-friendly. Tech solutions can ensure every step is secure, accountable, and focused on protecting OFWs,” Cacdac stated.