Background and rationale

The BRIDGE Project supports the Philippines’ commitment to the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), specifically Objective 6 (facilitating fair and ethical recruitment and safeguarding conditions for decent work) and Objective 21 (cooperating to facilitate safe and dignified return of migrants as well as sustainable reintegration). The project is geared towards creating positive effects of migration by increasing government capacity for regular migration and decent work.

Project partners

Department of Foreign Affairs; Department of Migrant Workers; Overseas Workers Welfare Agency; National Economic and Development Authority; Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority; Center for Migrant Advocacy; Development Action for Women Network; Local Government Units (LGUs), Blas Ople Policy Center and Training Institute; workers’ and employers’ organizations.

Project objectives

The Joint Programme will support the Philippines in achieving the country’s priority Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) Objectives: Objective 6 (Facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work) and Objective 21 (Cooperate in facilitating sage and dignified return and readmission, as well as sustainable reintegration), with a focus of the needs and protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) throughout the migration cycle – from recruitment, employment, to return and reintegration.
This will be achieved by ensuring that:

► Government initiatives to promote fair and ethical recruitment as well as reintegration services are evidence-based, gender-responsive, and coordinated; and
► Government establishes mechanisms to translate evidence into policy best practices pertaining to recruitment and reintegration throughout the migration cycle.

Main Activities (ILO component)

1. Conduct recruitment industry mapping towards fair and ethical recruitment to improve regulatory inspection of recruitment agencies in compliance with POEA rules and regulations
2. Conduct research with Yale University on the impact of labour policies on recruitment, social costs, and prospects of reintegration for OFWs
3. Develop data collection, management, and monitoring system involving local to national reintegration service providers, government, and other community partners
4. Develop a Code of Conduct monitoring system for private recruitment agencies to track voluntary compliance with POEA rules and regulations and Principles on Fair Recruitment
5. Conduct a training for recruitment regulators based on the gaps and recommendations of audited recruitment agencies on common data collection and management
6. Conduct a training of reintegration community service providers (MRCs, OFW helpdesks, etc.) on common data collection/management system
7. Conduct an assessment of data management system to enhance registry of OFW returnees
8. Localize approach and national strategies in development integrated recruitment-reintegration plan in collaboration with the Sub-Committee on International Migration and Development (SC-IMD) in 3 pilot provinces
9. Conduct capacity-building interventions to support 3 provinces based on the recommendations of an inter-government committee
10. Develop “OFW Reintegration Advisor and Referral Pathways”
11. Strengthen the Sub-Committee on International Migration and Development (SC-IMD) as convergence platform to coordinate, report, support, reintegration efforts
12. Establish partnership with POLO in implementing one pilot corridor on capacity development or enhancement of reintegration service providers among CSOs, OFCs, and migrant groups
13. Support the operationalization of Migrant Resource Center on providing reintegration services
14. Conduct skilling training of OFW returnees, especially women

Project Outcomes

1.  Fair and ethical recruitment and sustainable reintegration of migrant workers are promoted through whole-of-government and evidence-based approach that is gender-responsive;
2.  Improved policies and practices pertaining to fair and ethical recruitment, and sustainable reintegration that are informed by evidence and international standards; and
3.  Improved alignment of policy and practices to GCM Objectives on reintegration on fair and ethical recruitment.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Marie Allyssa C. Dacasin
National Project Coordinator
Bridging Recruitment to Reintegration in Migration Governance: Philippines (BRIDGE)
Email

International Labour Organization (ILO)
Country Office for the Philippines
19th Floor, Yuchengco Tower
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200 Philippines
Tel +632 8580 9900