Budapest: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has deepened its collaboration with Hungarian partners and the Philippine Embassy in Hungary to strengthen the protection, welfare, and labor mobility of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hungary and neighboring countries.
According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the importance of a seamless and coordinated approach in delivering services to OFWs abroad during a courtesy visit to Philippine Ambassador to Hungary Maria Elena Algabre. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for a One Country Team Approach.
Secretary Cacdac expressed gratitude for the embassy’s strong partnership and proactive coordination in addressing the needs of Filipino workers in Hungary and nearby regions. Ambassador Algabre reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to collaborating with the DMW and other agencies to provide responsive and coordinated services to Filipinos across the area.
Following the courtesy call, Cacdac met with representatives of the Association for Central European Employment of Overseas Filipino Workers (ACE) to discuss improving ethical recruitment, strengthening worker welfare, and expanding opportunities. The discussions also focused on initiatives to enhance the skills and capabilities of OFWs, including their overall well-being.
Both parties agreed to conduct joint training initiatives, such as Capacity and Enhancement Training for Welfare Desk Officers. Collaborations will also involve Hungarian and Filipino coordinators of ACE member companies engaged in recruitment, deployment, and welfare support for OFWs.
These engagements reflect the DMW’s commitment to forging strategic partnerships and promoting ethical, transparent, and sustainable employment practices that uphold the dignity of Filipino workers while addressing the needs of responsible employers abroad.
Joining the meeting were key officials, including Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr., Assistant Secretary Julyn Ambito-Fermin, Labor Attach© Joan Lourdes Lavila, Welfare Officer Christelyn Caceres, OIC-Chief Cleobelle Romero, and Kenji Riordan Lavila. ACE was represented by Board President Adrian Farkas, Endre Kovacs, and Daniel Horvath of ProHuman Group, along with embassy officials Consul General Jeffrey Salik and Vice Consul John Phillipe Arjona.
In September, the DMW opened two new satellite offices in Budapest, Hungary, and Vienna, Austria, to accommodate the growing population of Filipino migrant workers. The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Vienna serves approximately 8,000 OFWs in Austria and around 12,000 OFWs in Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia. Meanwhile, MWO-Budapest’s jurisdiction covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Moldova, and Montenegro, with 5,373 OFWs present.