MUSCAT: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has announced an increase in the minimum monthly pay for overseas Filipino domestic workers from US$400 to US$500, a reform issued under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that will apply to newly hired domestic staff as well as returning workers on re-employment; authorities have allowed a 60-day transition period for recruitment agencies, employers and host governments to update contracts and procedures.
The wage adjustment is part of a broader eight-point reform package aimed at strengthening protection and welfare for domestic workers, which includes free annual medical checkups, a mandatory “Know Your Employer” video call prior to contract signing, digital welfare monitoring through the Kumusta Kabayan? platform, tighter oversight of recruitment agencies, and skills-training initiatives to expand career mobility.
Officials stressed that the US$500 figure is a new baseline rather than a ceiling, noting that actual pay may vary across host jurisdictions and could be higher for workers with advanced skills or specialized training; labour advocates welcomed the measure but urged robust enforcement to ensure the benefits reach workers on the ground, given domestic workers comprise a substantial share of the Philippines’ overseas labour deployment.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the increase will be integrated into all DMW-processed employment contracts and that Migrant Workers Offices will engage host governments and private employers to facilitate implementation, while analysts warn the change will require careful coordination with sending-and-receiving parties to avoid contractual disputes and ensure timely enforcement.
