The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Luxembourg representatives are exploring job opportunities for skilled overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) under a proposed Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on labor cooperation. If finalized, the JDI would give skilled OFWs more employment options in Luxembourg.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting on November 6, 2026, at the DMW Central Office. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac met with Lutz H. Kunack, Honorary Consul of Luxembourg in the Philippines, and Anne Moes, Minister-Counsellor and Tokyo-based Deputy Head of Mission, to discuss possible areas of labor cooperation between the two countries. The talks focused on expanding employment opportunities while ensuring safe, ethical recruitment and fair working conditions for Filipino workers.
During the roundtable, DMW Assistant Secretary Julyn S. Ambito-Fermin and OIC Director Mary Sol D. Dela Cruz said that the DMW needs to coordinate with Philippine partner agencies. They cited three priorities: fair recruitment practices, appropriate employment arrangements, and working conditions that match the skills and qualifications of Filipino workers.
“We consistently prioritize safe migration and labor mobility. That is why we want to align our efforts toward ensuring the safety, protection, and welfare of our OFWs,” said Ambito-Fermin.
Through the proposed JDI, the DMW aims to offer skilled OFWs more employment options in Luxembourg while safeguarding their rights and welfare throughout the recruitment and employment process. The DMW’s announcement did not specify the occupations covered, the number of positions, or a date for finalizing the declaration.
Background on Philippines–Luxembourg ties
Luxembourg is not among the main destinations for Filipino workers. The Department of Foreign Affairs has estimated that about 1,000 Filipinos live and work in the country, most of them professionals. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on August 26, 1946, and this year marks their 80th anniversary.
In February, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro hosted Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel in Manila. Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Bay presented opportunities for formal labor mobility cooperation during the visit. The two governments also agreed to hold periodic consultations to review cooperation and identify new areas of partnership.
A JDI is a statement of intent rather than a binding labor agreement. The DMW signed one with Denmark in December 2024, covering upskilling programs for Filipino nurses and healthcare assistants and a streamlined recruitment process.
Philippine Embassy in Brussels postings from 2024 state that the Migrant Workers Office in Berlin has jurisdiction over Luxembourg.
The DMW has not said when the proposed JDI with Luxembourg will be signed.
