The officials of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) paid a visit to the Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) for a benchmarking meeting to discuss details on the setting up of a counterpart research Division within the Department at the office of OIC-Executive Director Jeanette T. Damo last 17 November 2022.

The delegation from DMW was led by  Assistant Secretary Mario T. Zinampan, Atty. Catherine C. Sy and Labor Attache Saul de Vries.

OIC-Executive Director Damo and Deputy Executive Atty. Mary Grace L. Riguer-Teodosio discussed the Institute’s mandate including its research agenda, processes, organizational structure and manpower complement.

Republic Act 11641, otherwise known as “The Department of Migrant Workers Act,” took effect on February 3, 2022. DMW currently assumes and performs all the powers and functions of seven merged agencies, namely: the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA) of the DFA; the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) and all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) under DOLE; the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP); the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) under the OWWA, and the Office of the Social Welfare Attaché (OSWA) under the DSWD.

The DMW is mandated to facilitate the overseas employment and reintegration of Filipino workers, while taking into consideration the national development programs of the National Economic and Development Authority. It is also tasked to promote the empowerment and protection of OFWs through continuous training and knowledge development.