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29 September 2024 – Consistent with the Philippine government’s efforts to bring its services closer to the Filipino people, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) opened a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Vienna, which was launched during a Town Hall Meeting with the Filipino Community in Vienna.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac led the opening of the MWO together with Philippine Ambassador Evangelina A. Bernas, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnel Ignacio, DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan, and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Maria Elena Algabre.
In his remarks, Secretary Cacdac said the opening of the MWO in Vienna is a testament to the government’s commitment to help overseas Filipino workers, providing them with easier access to services, including legal, humanitarian, and medical assistance. “Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his vision for Bagong Pilipinas, we aim to make the services of DMW accessible to OFWs, and the presence of MWOs will ensure the timely delivery of assistance and services to overseas workers,” he said. The Migrant Workers Secretary also introduced Atty. Delmer Cruz was the first Labor Attached to the MWO in Vienna.
DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Elena Algabre stated that the opening of the MWO is a significant step toward the deepening of bilateral labor cooperation between the Philippines and Austria. Administrator Arnel Ignacio shared the wide-ranging services that OWWA offers to its members, including repatriation, medical assistance, financial literacy programs, and scholarships.
Ambassador Bernas welcomed the opening of the MWO in Vienna, which will serve Filipinos in Austria, Croatia, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. She said that under the One Country Team Approach, the Embassy of the Philippines in Vienna and the Migrant Workers Office will work together to ensure that the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers in countries under the Embassy’s jurisdiction are upheld and protected.
The members of the Filipino community laud the opening of the MWO in Vienna as it will make the application process for Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) and the verification of employment contracts faster. Prior to the opening of the MWO in Vienna, Filipino workers had to submit their documents to the MWO in Milan.
The MWO-Vienna is the 41st Migrant Workers Office established by DMW. The MWO is mandated to protect the rights, promote welfare, and unleash the potential of Filipino migrant workers abroad. /END
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