To all OFWs, please be advised that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is now called the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
If you try to visit the POEA.GOV.PH main website, you might notice that it isn’t working anymore, with a “Page cannot be displayed” error. When you also check the official FB Page of POEA, it now redirects to the Department of Migrant Workers office page.
Please do not worry about these changes, because this is all part of the transition period of the DMW office being implemented this year. It is expected to be completed by 2023.
Contents
Why the change?
This Department of Migrant Workers is the new OFW department created under President Duterte’s administration. The mandate of the department is to primarily focus on the protection of Filipino workers abroad.
The POEA is one of the Philippine government agencies that will be merged to this new OFW department. Please be advised that there are other departments such as the OWWA and the POLO-OWWA that will also be merged into the DMW.
What does this mean for OFWs?
The creation of the new Department of Migrant Workers will consolidate other relevant migrant worker agencies into one OFW department. This is to make it more convenient and efficient for our kababayans abroad to get the help and assistance they need.
The DMW will also be in charge of the deployment of Filipino workers overseas. So if you are planning to work abroad, please coordinate with them first.
For now, there isn’t much difference for OFWs, since most of the services offered by POEA are still being implemented by the DMW. The main difference is that the website URL of POEA is no longer working. You will have to visit the new website.
DMW Website
The DMW website is https://www.dmw.gov.ph
DMW Facebook Page
The DMW Facebook Page is https://www.facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph
DMW Office Logo
The DMW also has a new logo, which you can see below:
What is DMW?
The Department of Migrant Workers is a Philippine government agency created to oversee the welfare of Filipino migrant workers and to protect their rights.
What does DMW do?
The Department of Migrant Workers provides services to Filipino migrant workers such as:
- Assisting in the processing of their documents
- Monitoring employment conditions
- Providing counseling and repatriation assistance
- Investigating complaints of abuse and exploitation
The Department of Migrant Workers also works with host governments, employers, and other stakeholders to promote the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.
Summary
You can also expect that the DMW will intensify its protection efforts for our OFWs. With the new department, there will be more programs and initiatives that will be put in place to safeguard the rights and welfare of Filipino workers abroad.
Please take note of these changes and spread the word to your fellow OFWs. Let us all cooperate with the new Department of Migrant Workers as it starts its operations. We wish them all the best in fulfilling their mandate of protecting and promoting the welfare of all Filipino workers abroad. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!