DMW implements whitelisting policy to enhance Pinoy migrant workers protection

As illegal recruitment persists that would sometimes end up with Filipino migrant workers being victims of abuses, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has implemented a new policy that will add safety measures for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said the implementation of the whitelisting policy includes the appointment of Welfare Desk Officers to oversee the safety and conditions of deployed workers.

"We are introducing this whitelisting mechanism to ensure that only employers with good track records are allowed to deploy workers to various destination countries, thereby guaranteeing their safety and well-being," Olalia said.
 
" Any licensed private recruitment agency (PRA) or foreign recruitment agency (FRA) that violates the standards set by the DMW will face disciplinary actions, including possible removal from the whitelist," he added.

The whitelisting policy is stipulated in the DMW Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2024, that provides enhanced protection for Filipino migrant workers and streamlined recruitment procedures for OFWs.

Olalia said the policy also requires private recruitment agencies to practice fair and ethical recruitment and business standards. 

For foreign recruitment agencies, he said they should provide superior terms and conditions of work, as well as employ gender-responsive staff, structures, and policies.
 
The whitelisting policy currently covers 432 licensed PRAs and 573 FRAs that deploy workers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

For Kuwait, 183 PRAs and 184 FRAs are included in the whitelist.

Ople legacy 

The whitelisting policy aligns with the UN's rights-based approach to migration, emphasizing the responsibility of both sending and receiving countries to protect migrant workers' rights and recognize their contributions.

 It involves creating transparent, mutually beneficial partnerships to address human trafficking and worker exploitation with targeted solutions.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said it was the late secretary Toots Ople who initiated the whitelisting process.

“We are merely continuing her efforts to ensure that only recruitment agencies with proven good track records are authorized to deploy workers to Saudi Arabia,” said Cacdac.
 
"The initiative is being expanded to key labor markets, including the UAE, Qatar, and other countries where Filipino workers are in demand," he added.