DMW eyes safeguards for OFWs in Oman

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is seeking to provide better protection for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Oman, as the Middle Eastern country looks to hire more Filipino professionals.

In a statement on Monday, the DMW said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac met with several Omani officials, including Labor Minister H.E. Mahad Bin Said Ali Baawain and Foreign Affairs Minister Sayyid Sadr Bin Hamood Albusaidi.

The DMW said Cacdac and the Omani officials discussed the “shared initiatives” of the Philippines and Oman in "upholding the safe and ethical recruitment of OFWs.”

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Among these initiatives is a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation, set to be signed in January next year, which will establish safeguards for OFWs in Oman.

These safeguards will include ethical recruitment standards, fair employment terms, joint dispute resolution mechanisms, and regular monitoring through a bilateral Joint Committee.

This development follows Labor Minister Baawain’s statement during the meeting that Oman is “actively seeking” qualified OFWs for employment, including Filipino domestic workers, technicians, port staff, and other skilled professionals.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Oman, there were 48,892 Filipino expatriate workers in the country as of June 2024.

The DMW said it is also expanding support across other countries in the Middle East, noting that there are over 48,000 Filipinos in Jordan working in industries such as caregiving, hospitality, beauty services, and food service./mcm

(2025/07/15-09:57)

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