MANILA (January 3) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is closing 2025 claiming major gains in overseas Filipino worker (OFW) protection, citing faster digital services, near-full use of emergency funds, and tougher action against illegal recruiters.
But behind the numbers lies a harder question that continues to confront migrant families: has protection on paper translated into safety, justice, and dignity on the ground?
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency followed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “red carpet, not red tape” directive, shifting the department’s focus toward speed, enforcement, and crisis response.
Digital gains — but uneven access
The DMW processed 514,966 e-Travel and OFW Pass transactions in 2025, significantly reducing reliance on the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), long criticized by migrants as costly and time-consuming.
While the shift shortened processing time for many workers, migrant advocates note that digital systems still exclude some OFWs, particularly those in low-connectivity areas or with limited digital literacy. Airlines’ full recognition of digital travel credentials is also still pending, with 2026 set as the target.
For thousands of workers, faster systems matter only if access is universal.
Labor agreements: protection depends on enforcement
The DMW pursued 10 new bilateral labor agreements, bringing the total to 72, the highest among labor-sending countries.
Officials describe these agreements as the backbone of labor diplomacy, but enforcement remains the real test. Despite existing accords, OFWs continued to face detention, non-payment of wages, abuse, and death-row cases abroad in 2025 — underscoring that agreements do not automatically prevent violations.
“How fast disputes are resolved and how consistently host countries honor these commitments will determine whether labor diplomacy truly protects workers,” one labor analyst noted.
Emergency aid improves — but crises keep multiplying
The agency’s Aksyon Fund reached 98 percent utilization, assisting 160,769 OFWs and family members with financial, legal, medical, and repatriation support — a sharp improvement from previous years.
The fund was mobilized during armed conflicts in the Middle East, earthquakes in Asia, flooding in the UAE, mass layoffs in New Zealand, arrests in Qatar, and scam-hub trafficking cases in Myanmar.
Yet the sheer number of crises raises a deeper concern: why Filipino workers remain disproportionately exposed to high-risk deployments, and whether pre-deployment screening and job vetting are keeping pace with global labor abuses.
Cacdac acknowledged the pressure, saying the goal is 100 percent utilization in 2026 — but utilization alone does not measure whether crises could have been prevented.
Enforcement up — convictions still few
The DMW shut down 32 illegal recruitment establishments in 2025, more than double the previous year, and secured six convictions. Authorities also moved against 25 individuals linked to scam hubs and trafficking networks.
While enforcement activity increased, convictions remain relatively low compared with the scale of illegal recruitment cases reported annually. Advocates argue that faster case resolution and harsher penalties are needed to deter recruiters who continue to exploit desperation among jobseekers.
High-profile cases highlight limits
DMW-engaged lawyers secured the commutation of two death sentences in Saudi Arabia and monitored cases in Jordan and Kuwait, including those of slain OFWs Mary Grace Santos and Jullebee Ranara.
These interventions saved lives and brought attention to systemic abuse — but they also highlight the reactive nature of protection, where assistance often comes only after irreversible harm.
Facilities expand — but many still rely on NGOs
DMW facilities, including OFW lounges at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, seafarers’ hubs, and Migrants’ Brew centers, served over a million workers combined.
The OFW Hospital’s upgrade improved access to healthcare for migrant families, yet many OFWs abroad still depend on non-government organizations and volunteers for immediate shelter, legal aid, and trauma support — especially in countries with weak labor protections.
Domestic workers: higher pay, lingering risks
Raising the minimum wage for domestic workers from USD 400 to USD 500 marked progress, but abuse cases persist, particularly in private households where monitoring is weakest.
A planned “know-your-employer” video interview system could help, but its impact will depend on strict enforcement and swift response when red flags emerge.
Reintegration: numbers up, outcomes unclear
The DMW assisted 52,745 returning OFWs through livelihood, training, and employment programs in 2025. While participation increased, the agency has yet to publicly release long-term outcome data showing how many beneficiaries achieved stable income or avoided redeployment out of necessity.
The accountability test
The DMW’s 2025 record shows real progress — faster services, stronger enforcement, and more responsive crisis aid. But protection remains largely reactive, shaped by emergencies rather than prevention.
As labor migration pressures intensify in 2026, OFWs and their families will judge success not by utilization rates or agreements signed, but by fewer abuse cases, faster justice, and safer jobs before deployment.
For millions of Filipinos working overseas, the demand remains the same: not just less red tape — but real protection, before harm happens.
 is closing 2025 claiming major gains in overseas Filipino worker){kind=link}
