Globally, more people than ever seek better lives outside their home countries. 10 million Filipinos live abroad and more than one million Filipino leave the country each year to work abroad. Remittances to the Philippines from around the world continue to grow.
Labour migration is a national thrust for economic growth and other countries see the Philippines as a model in regulating migration. On the other hand, some migrant workers are forced into work against their will. They are deceived about the nature of work and receive wages that are less than what is promised. Migrant workers can be victims of forced labour and human trafficking.
In 2005, tripartite experts formulated and adopted the ILO Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration: non-binding principles and guidelines for a rights-based approach to labour migration. The Framework assists ILO partners to manage international and national labour migration. It addresses major issues faced by policy makers and provides guidelines and principles on labour migration.