The Philippine government, together with the Kingdom of Jordan, vowed to strengthen protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly the around 40,000 Filipino household workers employed in the Arab state.
The Department of Migrant Workers on Thursday evening reported that Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, in a ministerial meeting with Jordan’s Minister of Labor Khalid Mahmoud Al-Bakkar, pushed forward reforms under the Enhanced Reform Program for Filipino Domestic Workers, which outlines critical measures.
This includes raising the minimum wage from $400 to at least $500, the implementation of a mandatory “know your employer” protocol before deployment, the establishment of a digital welfare monitoring system, the implementation of annual medical check-ups for domestic workers, a stricter whitelisting policy to ensure ethical recruitment, and stronger support services for Filipino workers.
“These reforms reflect our commitment to decent work, ethical recruitment, and strengthened welfare mechanisms for Filipino domestic workers deployed abroad,” Cacdac said in an earlier interview.
He also noted that this initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to champion OFW protection.
Al-Bakkar welcomed the measures and expressed Jordan’s readiness to work closely with the Philippines in upholding the dignity and welfare of migrant workers.
