Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is looking at opportunities to develop cooperation in labor migration with Timor-Leste. During a meeting on Friday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Timor-Leste Ambassador to the Philippines Marciano Octavio Garcia Da Silva discussed "mutually beneficial labor migration opportunities" as well as sharing of best practices.

According to Philippines News Agency, the latest data from the DMW showed that more than 1,500 Filipinos are employed legally in Timor-Leste, while over 4,000 are believed to be undocumented. Most of these Filipinos are working in the construction, engineering, and education sectors.

The DMW highlighted the importance of sharing best practices in labor migration, reintegration, and the enforcement of welfare and illegal recruitment policies, noting that such measures will benefit migrant workers, especially Filipinos in Timor-Leste. On top of information sharing, the DMW expressed interest in facilitating study visits to foster mutual understanding of existing systems in both countries.

The meeting was marked as a welcome partnership between the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' new member. Stronger cooperation between the two states is expected to open up new opportunities for Filipino workers while ensuring their protection in the host country, the DMW added.