The Philippines and Jordan have pledged to enhance protections for the approximately 40,000 Filipino household workers in the Arab state, signaling a renewed commitment to the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), officials announced Thursday.
In a ministerial meeting, Philippine Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Jordan’s Minister of Labor Khalid Mahmoud Al-Bakkar advanced reforms under the Enhanced Reform Program for Filipino Domestic Workers. The initiative introduces sweeping measures to ensure fair treatment and improved working conditions, including raising the minimum wage from $400 to at least $500, mandating a “know your employer” protocol before deployment, and establishing a digital welfare monitoring system. Other reforms include annual medical check-ups, a stricter whitelisting policy for ethical recruitment, and expanded support services for Filipino workers.
“These reforms reflect our commitment to decent work, ethical recruitment, and strengthened welfare mechanisms for Filipino domestic workers deployed abroad,” Cacdac said in an earlier interview, emphasizing alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize OFW protection.
Al-Bakkar expressed Jordan’s full support for the measures, underscoring the kingdom’s readiness to collaborate with Manila to uphold migrant workers’ dignity and rights.
The agreement came during the first Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) between the two nations, where they reviewed their 2018 Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation and the Cooperation Framework on the Employment of Domestic Workers. A Joint Statement on Labor Cooperation was adopted, outlining key protections such as revised employment contracts guaranteeing rest days, fair wages, annual leave, and adequate food provisions. The statement also bans passport confiscation, ensures workers’ rights to retain personal documents, introduces end-of-service benefits, and establishes a joint database for worker deployment, contracts, and transfers.
Additional measures address immigration challenges, including legalizing undocumented workers, settling overstay penalties for expired residence permits, and resolving issues related to non-renewed work permits. The two nations also agreed to evaluate the salary framework for Filipino hotel workers in Jordan.
Jordanian Ministry of Labor Secretary General Abdel Haleem Dojan hailed the meeting as a significant step toward advancing bilateral cooperation and aligning with international labor standards. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to ethical recruitment, fair migration, and combating trafficking while promoting safer labor mobility pathways.
Philippine Migrant Workers Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr. noted that the Joint Statement sets the stage for the 50th anniversary of Philippines-Jordan diplomatic relations, marking a milestone in their shared commitment to migrant worker welfare.
The reforms come as the Philippines continues to prioritize the protection of its 1.8 million OFWs worldwide, with Jordan serving as a key destination for Filipino household workers. The strengthened partnership aims to create a model for fair and dignified labor migration, officials said.
