Philippines expands labor and service initiatives for overseas workers

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is launching several initiatives to support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). In Bahrain, the DMW will host the first ‘OFW Serbisyo Caravan’ on October 23–24, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain. The event aims to provide centralized access to essential services, including social protection, legal assistance, civil registration, and financial and banking support. Participating agencies include the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-IBIG, Landbank, and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Simultaneously, the DMW has initiated a government-to-government (G2G) recruitment drive for Croatia. Nine Croatian hotel employers are conducting face-to-face interviews in Mandaluyong City for 785 vacancies, including roles for chefs, waiters, and housekeeping staff. This recruitment process is being managed directly by the DMW without private agencies to ensure a legal and orderly transition. DMW Undersecretary Jainal T. Rasul Jr. and Croatian Employment Service Director General Ante Loncar have signed new implementing guidelines to coordinate the recruitment, protection, and monitoring of Filipino workers in Croatia.