PH to open Migrant Workers Office in Nigeria to support OFWs across Africa
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Mersole Mellejor, and other DMW officials met with Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Labor Minister Muhammad Maigadi Dingyadi to discuss labor cooperation, protection measures, and potential job opportunities. Cacdac thanked Nigeria for hosting more than 6,000 OFWs and highlighted prospects for collaboration in business process outsourcing, migration support, and skilled labor deployment.
Foreign Minister Tuggar recalled the contributions of Filipino teachers in Nigeria during the 1970s and cited opportunities for Filipino professionals in sectors such as electricity, solar energy, and emerging industries. Labor Minister Dingyadi expressed support for establishing the labor office and said Nigeria is ready to explore a bilateral labor agreement.
Officials said Nigeria's growing infrastructure, construction, agribusiness, and services sectors present potential employment opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled Filipino workers. The planned Abuja MWO will act as a frontline office for OFWs in the region, enabling faster responses to labor concerns, providing legal and welfare aid, and improving coordination with host governments and employers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
an hour ago
- Filipino Times
Sotto refiles bill seeking mandatory 14th-month pay for private workers
Senate Minority Leader Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III has refiled a bill that would require private-sector employers to grant workers a 14th-month pay, aimed at easing the burden of rising living costs and helping families manage educational expenses. Under the measure, the 14th-month pay would be in addition to the 13th-month pay mandated by Presidential Decree No. 851, which was enacted in 1976. 'After almost five decades, the needs and cost of living of every Filipino worker have drastically changed; thus, it is high time that employees in the private sector receive their 14th-month pay,' Sotto said. The bill provides that the minimum 14th-month pay shall not be less than one-twelfth of an employee's total basic salary within the calendar year. Sotto suggested releasing the 13th-month pay by June 14 to help cover school expenses, while the 14th-month pay should be distributed no later than December 24 to assist with holiday costs. The proposed law would apply to all non-government rank-and-file employees, workers covered by the Kasambahay Law, and others already entitled to a 13th-month pay, provided they have worked for at least one month during the year. Employers that are distressed, non-profit institutions with major income losses, or companies already giving a 14th-month pay or equivalent benefits would be exempt. 'The bill has exemptions for qualified employers so as not to burden struggling businesses, which are equally important for our economy,' Sotto said.
Filipino Times
an hour ago
- Filipino Times
PH Government Welcomes 40 Repatriated OFWs from Nigeria After Human Trafficking Ordeal
The Philippine government has successfully repatriated 40 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were victims of human trafficking in Lagos, Nigeria. Thirty-nine of them arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 on August 18, 2025, via flight QR932, while a young mother who recently gave birth in detention remains in Lagos until she and her infant are cleared to travel. The OFWs were among those arrested during a December 2024 Nigerian government raid on cryptocurrency and online romance scam operations. Initially promised jobs as customer service representatives with $1,000 monthly salaries and free lodging, they were instead forced into cyber scams, stripped of their passports, and subjected to threats and exploitation. With the help of the Philippine Embassy in Abuja and the Honorary Consulate in Lagos, the workers negotiated plea deals to secure their release. Their return was made possible following the August 17 visit of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and embassy officials. Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, joined by House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (HCOWA) Chairperson Rep. Bryan Revilla and other government agencies, personally welcomed the victims upon arrival. Each repatriated OFW received ₱50,000 in financial aid from the DMW's AKSYON Fund, temporary shelter from OWWA, and access to medical, psychosocial, and reintegration support. Secretary Cacdac vowed continued government support: 'Utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na makapagpanimula kayong muli, at tungkulin namin sa DMW na paigtingin ang inyong tibay at lakas ng loob upang makapagsimulang muli.' Rep. Revilla added that the House of Representatives remains committed to safeguarding OFWs' rights. The DMW reminded job seekers to stay vigilant against illegal recruitment and trafficking schemes, assuring that the government will continue to uphold the welfare of migrant workers worldwide.
Filipino Times
5 hours ago
- Filipino Times
OWWA e-Cards for Serbisyo Caravan applicants now available at MWO-Dubai
Overseas Filipino workers who applied for an OWWA e-Card during the OFW Serbisyo Caravan can now claim it at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai. In a social media post, MWO-Dubai and Northern Emirates shared the full list of active members who successfully applied for the e-Card, providing instructions on how and where to collect their cards. 'Available na po ang OWWA E-Card ng mga active members na nag-register sa World Trade Center, Exhibition Hall 8 sa ginanap na 2025 Bagong Bayani Serbisyo Caravan noong August 3, 2025,' the post read. Members claiming their e-Cards are advised to bring their Emirates ID or passport as proof of identity. The complete list of names can be accessed here: OWWA e-Card printer remains at Dubai During the Serbisyo Caravan, OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan announced that the e-card printer will remain at MWO-Dubai, allowing active members to continue availing of the service even after the one-day caravan concluded, in response to the surge in applications. Active OWWA members who have not yet applied for their e-Cards may register at The OWWA e-Card serves as proof of membership and provides access to various government services and programs for overseas Filipinos.
