The Solidarity Center, in collaboration with the Migrant Forum in Asia and Building and Wood Workers’ International, held its first Philippine multi-stakeholder consultation on the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Orderly Migration (GCM) in preparation for its larger regional counterpart in February next year and its international implementation review in 2026.
The national convention on September 26–27 sought recommendations from migrant advocacy groups, provincial overseas Filipino worker (OFW) associations and federations, public employment service offices from local government units, the Foreign Affairs department, the Migrant Workers department, recruitment agencies and trade unions.
The GCM review process serves as an opportunity for stakeholders to hold the Philippine government accountable for actions relating to labor migration governance and protection of the rights of Filipino migrant workers. The count of OFWs last year jumped to 2.16 million from 1.96 million in 2022, with total remittances at 2.39 billion pesos (approximately $42.4 million), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The engagement included workshops on freedom of association, the care economy and gender, fair and ethical recruitment, access to social protection and justice, and dignified return and sustainable reintegration. A plenary consolidation of recommendations followed, which the Migrant Workers department also noted for its own report to the 2026 GCM review.
Recommendations for labor migration governance pivoted on increased collaboration among all stakeholders, institutionalizing programs at the local level, and a stricter implementation of existing policies.
Rosalina Bayan, organizer at Kanlungan Center Foundation, said, “I hope proper mechanisms can be developed, where the government and civil society organizations collaborate to build trust among migrant workers in seeking help from duty bearers and agencies who are willing and able to help them.”