The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), “Ang Tahanan ng OFW”
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is the primary Philippine government agency tasked to protect the rights and promote the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. Number 11641 (The DMW Act), which was signed by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on December 30, 2021 and took effect on February 3, 2022. 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. The Labor Office of the Philippine Embassy in Budapest (LOPEB)
The Labor Office is one of the 42 Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) of the DMW in 31 countries. It is the DMW’s overseas operating arm in the implementation of Philippine labor policies and programs for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interests of Filipinos working in Hungary as well as in countries under its concurrent jurisdiction, namely Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova. The Labor Office is under the direct supervision of the DMW Secretary, thru the Migrant Workers Offices Operations Support Bureau. In Hungary, the Labor Office is an attached agency to the Philippine Embassy in Budapest and is under the administrative supervision of the Philippine Ambassador under the One-Country Team Approach. The major services of the Labor Office are as follows:
Labor and Employment Facilitation
This ensures that the employment documents of OFWs are consistent with the prevailing employment laws, standards, and practices of both the Philippines and the countries under its jurisdiction, and that the documentary requirements for overseas employment as required by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) are complied with.
1.1 Accreditation of Prospective Employers
This refers to the authority granted to a foreign principal/employer to recruit and hire Filipino Workers through a licensed Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA) for overseas employment.
1.2 Employment Contract Verification
This refers to the procedure being conducted or applied by Labor Office to ensure that the employment rights, benefits and welfare of the Filipino migrant workers are duly protected and that the employment terms conform with prevailing employment laws, standards and practices in both Philippines and host government. Assistance to Returning Workers (Balik-Manggagawa)
Assistance to OFWs in processing their requirements for their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) or exemption as returning workers or balik-manggagawa. The OEC attests to the regularity of the OFW’s recruitment, documentation, and registration as an OFW which makes him/her eligible for overseas employment subject to Philippine Immigration laws, and enables him/her of the privileges granted to OFWs. Welfare Services
A range of services delivered for the protection and promotion of the well-being of OFWs while at the jobsite and even upon return to the Philippines. This includes OWWA membership promotion, provision of welfare assistance such as conciliation/mediation with employers and recruitment agencies, labor-related and psycho-social counselling, hospital/jail/detention/worksite/accommodation visitation, repatriation assistance, and whereabouts, among others. Also under this service is the implementation of reintegration preparedness training program focusing on financial literacy, values formation, entrepreneurial development, techno-skills and capacity building. Other Programs/Services/Activities
Includes: 1) continuous monitoring and reporting to the DMW on labor market situations and policy development in the host country that may affect Filipino migrant workers and Philippine labor policies; 2) conduct of outreach missions to OFWs and Filipino Communities to deliver its programs and services; 3) organization/participation in/support to social-cultural Activities of OFWs and Filipino communities; participation in consultative meetings /briefings with Partner Host Government Agencies, and other Stakeholders for updates to obtain updates on current labor and employment policies; and conduct of monitoring on the working and living conditions of OFWs. The Labor Office is located at the following address:
1055 Budapest
Kossuth Lajos ter 18, Right Wing Floor 1 Door 1
Landmark business establishment of the building is Smuz Café. Transportation: Tram nos. 2, 2B, and 23 and alight at Orzaghaz, Latogatokospont (Parliament, Visitor Center)
Email address: [email protected]
The Labor Office is open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except on Philippine and Hungarian non-working holidays.
