MANILA — The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is championing a bold initiative to dismantle gender barriers and discrimination facing overseas Filipino women workers, agency officials announced Thursday.
Highlighting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to women’s empowerment, the DMW is pushing for comprehensive strategies to enhance opportunities and protections for female migrant laborers who increasingly dominate diverse professional sectors.
“Let us continue to build on the foundation of women’s empowerment, independence, confidence, and hope,” said DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay at the Women OFW Conference in Makati City.
The agency’s intervention comes amid growing recognition that women overseas Filipino workers, while representing a critical economic workforce, often face systemic undervaluation in global employment markets.
Citing the Magna Carta of Women, the DMW emphasized the need for stronger legal protections, including safeguards against gender-based violence and ensuring workplace equality.
The conference, coinciding with National Women’s Month, underscored a strategic commitment to expanding training programs designed to improve women migrants’ professional prospects and economic mobility.
As the Philippines continues to be a significant global labor exporter, the DMW’s gender-responsive approach signals a progressive stance on migrant worker rights and opportunities.
The initiative represents a significant step toward addressing long-standing workplace inequities and recognizing women’s critical contributions to national economic development.
