Manila, Philippines – Earlier this month, FSM Ambassador John S. Fritz and Secretary of Justice Leonito M. Bacalando Jr. met with Philippine Secretary Hans Leo S. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Manila on November 6, 2024 to advance cooperation on labor deployment matters. This meeting marked an important step forward following the agreement reached by President Wesley W. Simina and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year to resume labor deployment from the Philippines to the FSM.

During the engagement with the newly established DMW, Ambassador Fritz and Secretary Bacalando Jr. reaffirmed the FSM’s commitment to fostering collaboration on labor issues of mutual interest. Both sides agreed in principle to make every effort to facilitate smoother labor deployment processes, ensuring that this bilateral arrangement benefits both nations.

Building on this momentum, it was agreed for a technical team from the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers to be deployed to the FSM, completing working visits to Pohnpei and Chuuk earlier this month. The team engaged with FSM government officials, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders to provide a comprehensive understanding of the existing practices related to hiring Filipino workers in the FSM.

These consultations aimed to identify ways to streamline the recruitment process and enhance mutual understanding.

The FSM and the Philippines are now poised to finalize and formally conclude a Labor Agreement based on the insights and progress achieved during these discussions. This agreement will further strengthen ties between the two countries and pave the way for improved labor mobility.

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