Better opportunities sought for workers

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) was constantly looking for better employment prospects for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan said. Caunan added that she had discussed the agenda with representatives from Saudi Arabia, Finland, the Bahamas, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Libya on the sidelines of the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh. The topics tackled include expanding job opportunities, ensuring ethical recruitment, enhancing worker protections and aligning labor migration policies with global workforce needs. "Various countries expressed their interest in hiring more Filipino skilled workers in the health care industry, hospitality, construction and other sectors. We talked about the efforts on the upskilling of our Filipino workers, our caregivers, who are major players in the global care economy," Caunan said. She added that several countries expressed their intent to visit the Philippines to expand cooperation on sustainable workforce, human resources training and labor mobility. The initiative, Caunan said, was indicative of the government's commitment to promote the welfare of OFWs, especially those in vulnerable sectors. "The DMW remains steadfast in its mission to elevate the status of Filipino workers worldwide, ensuring they are protected, valued, and provided with dignified employment," she added.