Summary
Highlights
The Philippines became a significant migrant-exporting country in the early 1970s. The 1974 Labor Code established an overseas employment program, accompanied by recruitment agencies and placement fees. By 2001, a medium-term development plan set an explicit goal of sending one million workers overseas annually between 2004 and 2010.
The discourse surrounding migration has evolved. President Benigno Aquino III, from 2010-2016, aimed to create jobs domestically so that working abroad would be a choice, not a necessity, while prioritizing the welfare of overseas workers. More recently, President Duterte expressed a desire to reduce the need for migration by creating opportunities at home, although migration has historically served as a tool to alleviate social and economic pressures.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is responsible for processing contracts, pre-deployment checks, and regulating recruitment agencies. Migrants who officially register receive benefits such as pre-migration training, life and medical insurance, tuition assistance, and access to loans. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provides support to migrants and their families, while the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) assists permanent immigrants.
Due to numerous issues like illegal recruitment, contract substitution, and exploitative working conditions, significant legal protections have been enacted. The 1995 Migrant Workers Overseas Filipinos Act provides protection from pre-departure to return, offering in-country officers, legal assistance for unauthorized workers, witness protection, and stiff penalties for illegal recruiters.
Subsequent laws, like the 2010 Republic Act, stipulated deployment only to safe countries, compulsory insurance, and reintegration programs. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012 enhanced efforts against trafficking. The Anti-Mail Order Brides Act of 1990 (revised in 2016) prohibits facilitating marriages between Filipinas (and now Filipinos) and foreign nationals, though it's often circumvented by agencies operating outside the Philippines.
The Philippine government encourages remittances and has made sending money home easier and cheaper. Despite sustained GDP growth, widespread poverty persists, and ironically, the country experiences labor shortages in sectors where it also exports workers (e.g., healthcare). Efforts have been made since 2010 to integrate migration into national development plans, improve government coordination, and engage with the Filipino diaspora through online portals. The Philippines is recognized as a leader in global migration policy-making and advocacy.