Photo courtesy: Department of Migrant Workers
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reaffirmed their commitment to enhance labor cooperation and implement reforms to strengthen the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.
In a statement, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said both countries agreed to promote fair labor practices during the Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) held in Pasig City.
“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 DMW Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr., who led the Philippine delegation.
He added that the dialogue provided an opportunity for both nations to discuss key labor issues, enhance institutional cooperation, and promote fair and ethical recruitment practices.
The meeting focused on streamlining migration processes and improving welfare and protection mechanisms for Filipino migrant workers in the UAE. Discussions included updates on UAE labor laws and regulations, the development of an online Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) module for domestic workers, verification of employment documents under the TADBEER sponsorship system, and the establishment of a centralized official document processing system for domestic worker recruitment.
Also discussed was DMW Advisory No. 25 or the Enhanced Reform Programs for Filipino Domestic Workers, which aims to standardize recruitment procedures and strengthen safeguards for household service workers.
The TADBEER system, regulated by the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), oversees the recruitment, training, deployment, and welfare of domestic workers, replacing the old private recruitment system to ensure ethical hiring and legal compliance.
The UAE delegation was led by Khalil Yousif Alkhoori, Undersecretary for Labour Market Operations and Emiratization, and UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi. Both officials expressed support for the Philippines’ labor reform initiatives and reaffirmed their government’s commitment to protecting worker welfare under updated UAE labor laws.
Both sides agreed to maintain continuous policy dialogue and technical cooperation to ensure transparent and rights-based labor migration processes that protect both workers and employers.
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