The Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), has inked a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with the Republic of Croatia for continued collaboration to ensure the protection and welfare of Filipino workers abroad.

In a press briefing on Friday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the bilateral agreement also reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to foster a relationship that upholds the rights and duties of Filipino workers in Croatia, while respecting both countries’ interests and laws.

Cacdac noted that the partnership between the Philippines and Croatia lays the groundwork for continued dialogue, collaboration, and mutual success.

“Filipino workers are globally recognized for their exemplary skills, dedication, and compassion, making them among the most sought-after workers worldwide,” he said.

DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvone Caunan said Cacdac signed the MOU on the Field of Labor Market with Croatia Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy Marin Piletić.

Caunan said the agreement would enhance employment opportunities for Filipino jobseekers in various industries in Croatia, including manufacturing, hospitality, and tourism.

It would also ensure that Filipino workers are legally protected and have access to mandatory health insurance and pension coverage, she said, adding that it would enable the two ministries to share their best practices.

Caunan noted that initial discussions between the Philippines and Croatia included plans to pilot a special hiring program for Filipino caregivers under a government-to-government framework.

“Ang sabi nila (they said) they will be opening 18 senior care facilities and they hope to have Filipino caregivers. But again, as I announced, their aim or the intention of our counterpart is that it goes through a government-to-government framework, so if there are 18 senior care facilities, siguro (maybe) between 500 to 1,000 in demand,” she said.

“We really appreciate the intentions of our counterpart, the Ministry of Labor, who said, ‘Let’s work on having a special hiring program for Filipino caregivers.’ This is where our efforts to upskill our domestic workers to have a career pathway and hopefully, better career opportunities in Europe, through the Department of Migrant Workers,” Cacdac said. (PNA)