The Philippines and the Federated States of Micronesia have signed a joint declaration of intent (JDI) to strengthen labor cooperation and ensure the protection and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Oceanian region.
The agreement was signed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Micronesia’s Justice Secretary and Attorney General Leonito Bacalando Jr.
According to the DMW, the JDI highlights both countries’ commitment to fair, ethical, and sustainable labor practices. It guarantees labor rights and social protection for OFWs, including equal access to employment benefits and social security systems similar to those received by local workers in Micronesia.
“This is a great step forward, the signing. Filipino contributions are valuable to our nation’s development,” said Bacalando.
The agreement also paves the way for the deployment of more Filipino workers in Micronesia’s key sectors such as construction, healthcare, education, and services. Skills certification and job matching will be facilitated through a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
A total of 1,891 OFWs were deployed to Micronesia between 2015 and 2024.
The declaration also includes provisions to strengthen cooperation in addressing irregular migration. Both countries committed to enhanced measures to combat illegal recruitment, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and document fraud.
“We will continue working towards a full memorandum of understanding (MOU) that guarantees safe and fair employment for our OFWs,” Cacdac said in a statement.
