MIGRANT WORKERS’ WELFARE. Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation, Patricia Yvonne Caunan (center), during a town hall meeting with Filipino nurses and foreign employers in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday (March 13, 2024). Caunan said the DMW held a series of dialogues in Berlin to uplift and enhance the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers in Germany. (Photo grabbed from Undersecretary Py Caunan Facebook page)
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) got the commitment of German employers and overseas Filipino workers (OFW) leaders for the enhancement of welfare promotion of migrant workers in Germany.
In a Friday press release, the DMW said it facilitated a critical dialogue with leading employers, foreign placement agencies (FPAs) and representatives of OFW communities to deliberate on pressing issues and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation.
DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the department has launched a series of dialogues with OFWs and other stakeholders during her visit to Germany that coincided with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit, aimed at uplifting and further enhancing their rights and welfare.
She said the activity is in compliance with the President’s instructions to strengthen international labor relations as its key agenda.
Caunan said that during the town hall meeting in Berlin, the DMW introduced the Cooperation Framework – a pioneering initiative underscoring shared social responsibility between the Philippines and its partners in promoting the welfare of Filipino workers, particularly focusing on the healthcare sector.
Tackled during the meeting were critical discussion points that included reduction of recruitment costs, optimization of recruitment processes, exploration of new recruitment modalities, and addressing challenges such as third-country recruitment, premature contract termination, and the necessity for comprehensive pre-departure and post-arrival orientation.
Caunan also proposed the conduct of regular dialogues to systematically address similar concerns, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts with German counterparts –both in the government and private sectors– to enhance information dissemination and the regular conduct of face-to-face post arrival orientation seminars (PAOS).
She said this framework not only aims to expedite ‘brain gain,” but also to address the nursing shortage in the Philippines.
Participants, who include representatives from 40 German companies that employ Filipino migrant workers, committed to working closely with the DMW through its Migrant Workers Office in Berlin.
The DMW added the partnership is expected to “foster the development of country and sector-specific policies for overseas employment that will further advance the welfare and protection of Filipino migrant workers in Germany.” (PNA)
