A proposed labor agreement between the Philippines and Mongolia could establish clearer procedures for deploying Filipino workers and addressing labor migration concerns. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it discussed the proposal with a Mongolian delegation during a meeting on Wednesday at its Central Office in Mandaluyong.
The planned arrangement seeks to designate a focal office for labor migration matters and establish an ethical and legal deployment process for Filipinos heading to Mongolia, according to the DMW. The department said Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac welcomed officials from Mongolia’s Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Protection, including Labor and Welfare Services Director General Zayten Bauyrzhan and Senior Specialist Ganbold Misheel of the Social Insurance and Provident Fund Policy Department.
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Labor Talks Focus on Legal and Ethical Recruitment
The discussions covered the importance of observing employment regulations in both countries, particularly those governing foreign workers. DMW officials said protecting Filipinos abroad requires attention to the laws and requirements of their destination country, alongside Philippine regulations.
"In protecting our domestic workers, including all workers bound to Mongolia, we are not only interested in compliance with Philippine laws, but we also are very much interested in complying with Mongolian laws, particularly on the regulations regarding the employment of foreign workers, including Philippine workers," Olalia said.
The department also highlighted the role of recruitment agencies in ensuring that workers are deployed through legitimate and transparent channels.
"We have our recruitment agencies as our important partner in fulfilling our mandate of protection of our workers. And these recruitment agencies are licensed recruitment agencies, which promotes fair, ethical, and transparent practices," he added.
Olalia also noted that both countries share an understanding of the safeguards needed for migrant workers.
"And we all know that Mongolia and the Philippines are on the same page regarding these safeguards," he said.
665 Filipinos Work in Mongolia
The DMW reported that 665 Filipinos in Mongolia are employed in skilled and professional occupations, as well as in household care and service work.
The proposed agreement comes as Filipino workers continue to seek employment opportunities overseas, making clear deployment rules and accessible channels for labor concerns important elements of migrant protection. Whether the planned framework delivers meaningful safeguards will depend on how effectively both governments put the agreed processes into practice and ensure workers can seek help when problems arise.
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