The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to open its Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 14, 2026, nearly a year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a directive to establish the office.
Soft Opening Announced
In a press briefing on Friday, DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay announced the soft opening of the MWO on Tuesday. “It is a significant development that we will have a Migrant Workers Office in Cambodia,” Bay said. She confirmed that the MWO will have its own labor attaché, administrative staff, and social welfare attaché, among others.
Addressing Scam Hub Issues
Bay emphasized the MWO’s role in combating the problem of Filipinos being illegally recruited to work in scam hubs in Cambodia. “We are focused on the problems faced by our countrymen, who have fallen victim to online scams or human trafficking,” she said. The office aims to provide support and intervention for victims.
Background of the Directive
During his State Visit to Cambodia in September 2025, President Marcos told overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that he had ordered the establishment of an MWO in the country. Currently, the DMW has 42 MWOs operating across different nations.
OFW Population in Cambodia
Records show that approximately 10,000 OFWs are living and working in Cambodia. The majority are professionals, including teachers, factory supervisors, missionaries, engineers, doctors, nurses, and pilots.
