The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has taken a major step in its digital transformation, signing a key agreement to expand a groundbreaking online system that benefits Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) worldwide.
Global Launch of Digital Verification Platform
On January 9, 2026, at the Conrad Hotel in Dubai, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and DataFlow Group Chief Strategy Officer Amit Gupta formally signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA). This pact marks the official global launch of the Online Employment Contract Verification System (OECVS). The system is a fully digital platform designed to let OFWs submit, pay for, and download their verified employment contracts entirely online, eliminating the need for physical paperwork and in-person visits.
Immediate Expansion and Massive Savings
The first phase of the global rollout will see the OECVS become available in three new locations very soon. The system is set to launch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong during the first quarter of 2026. This expansion follows a highly successful pilot program at the Migrant Workers Office in Dubai.
Since its initial launch in Dubai, the system's impact has been substantial. It has already processed over 30,000 OFW contracts. This digital shift has resulted in significant savings for Filipino workers, estimated at nearly AED 2 million and approximately 137,500 hours of processing time since July 2025.
Worldwide Rollout Planned for 2026
The agreement with the DataFlow Group outlines an ambitious schedule for making the system accessible to OFWs across the globe. After the initial expansion in early 2026, the DMW plans to introduce the OECVS in Singapore, other parts of the Middle East, Europe, and the rest of Asia sometime in the second half of 2026.
The primary goals of the OECVS are to:
- Streamline and speed up the employment contract verification process.
- Drastically reduce processing times for OFWs.
- Eliminate manual, paper-based steps that are prone to delays.
- Enhance the protection of workers' data privacy through a secure digital platform.
This global expansion represents a significant leap forward in the Philippine government's mission to provide efficient, modern, and secure services to its overseas workforce, ensuring their welfare and protection are prioritized through technological innovation.
