The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) formally signed an agreement with the Croatian government, opening doors to the Central European nation for Filipino workers in the hospitality sector.
Per a statement released earlier today, 18th July, DMW undersecretary Felicitas Bay signed the Implementing Guidelines for the Pilot Project on the Recruitment and Employment of Filipino Hotel Workers in Croatia in a virtual ceremony with Croatian Employment Service director-general Ante Loncar on Thursday, 17th July.
The signing was witnessed by Philippine ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Bernas and Croatian labour and employment director Luka Čirko.
Bay said of the agreement: “This milestone marks a significant step toward facilitating safe, ethical, and government-to-government job opportunities for Filipinos in Croatia’s hospitality sector.”
What comes next
According to the DMW: “Under the government-to-government arrangement, Croatian employers will shoulder the recruitment-related costs for Filipino workers subject to permissible fees agreed upon by both parties.”
Moving forward, Filipino hotel workers will be deployed through a streamlined process that ensures a safe, ethical, and transparent hiring process, providing strong protective measures for workers.
The agreement also strengthens the bilateral partnership between the two nations, rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a commitment to shared prosperity, while establishing a clear dispute resolution mechanism, guided by both Philippine and Croatian labor laws.
Meanwhile, to prepare Filipino workers before deployment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will conduct pre-departure orientation seminars, while the DMW’s Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau will facilitate pre-flight briefings.
This agreement is part of a broader cooperation initiative based on the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of Labour Market, signed by the Philippines and Croatia in October 2024 and ratified by Philippine President Ferdinand R Marcos Jnr earlier this year.
It also reflects the current administration's commitment to expanding ethical and government-facilitated job pathways for Filipino workers.
