Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday visited Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Ulsan, South Korea, to check on Filipino workers and strengthen labor cooperation with one of the world’s largest shipbuilders.
Cacdac said the visit aimed to ensure the welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while seeking to expand high-quality job opportunities for skilled laborers in South Korea’s maritime sector.
“It was a great meeting at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. We met with 70 OFW welders there,” Cacdac said in a statement Friday. “This engagement is a vital step toward a stronger relationship between the Department of Migrant Workers, HHI, and our Filipino workers.”
The secretary met with HHI executives, including Senior Vice President Jungil Kim, Senior Executive Vice President Yong-yeol Park of the Naval Business Unit, and Sang-won Shin, Executive in Charge of the Co-Prosperity Business Office. He was accompanied by Labor Attaché and Migrant Workers Office–Seoul Head Rosemarie Duquez and other DMW personnel.
During the visit, Cacdac spoke with Filipino welders, electricians, and other skilled tradesmen stationed at the shipyard. He also discussed initiatives with company leaders to uphold worker rights, improve safety standards, and maintain fair labor practices.
Cacdac emphasized that Filipino workers should not only be recognized for their skills but also treated with respect and dignity. He said collaboration with HHI reflects both nations’ shared goal of advancing “productive and protected migration.”
In September, Hyundai Heavy Industries announced a major investment in a Philippine shipbuilding project launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a move that has further strengthened bilateral cooperation in maritime development and skilled labor exchange.
The Philippines has long been a major source of maritime and industrial manpower for South Korea’s booming shipbuilding industry, with thousands of Filipino workers currently employed in various shipyards and engineering firms.
Cacdac said his department remains committed to promoting opportunities abroad while ensuring that Filipino workers “enjoy decent work conditions and a better quality of life for them and their families.”
