By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
MANILA – The National Anti-Poverty Commission– Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sectoral Council (NAPC-FLMWSC) has expressed support for the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) advisory raising the minimum monthly wage of Filipino domestic workers overseas from USD400 to at least USD500.
In a news release on Tuesday, NAPC-FLMWSC Sectoral Representative Danilo Laserna described the move as long overdue and a vital step in recognizing the indispensable role of Filipino domestic workers in the global care economy.
“(It) reflects the government’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and welfare of our migrant workers, many of whom are women from poor and marginalized communities,” he said.
The group said the wage hike directly addresses the rising global cost of living, prevents exploitation through underpayment, and boosts remittances that sustain millions of Filipino families.
To ensure effective implementation, the NAPC-FLMWSC urged the DMW to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement capacity of migrant workers’ offices.
It also called on the agency to uphold the new wage standards through bilateral labor agreements, provide comprehensive pre-deployment training, and expand reintegration support for returning workers.
As the government’s sectoral representative for formal labor and migrant workers, the NAPC-FLMWSC called on other concerned agencies to fully implement and institutionalize the new wage policy.
The council said this landmark adjustment should serve as a springboard for more pro-labor reforms that uplift the lives of Filipino workers both in the country and abroad. (PNA)
