Did you know that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is now known as the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)? The MWO is part of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which was established through Republic Act Number 11641, in 2022. The DMW has “absorbed” the functions of several different agencies, including POLO, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), among others.
Nowadays, the DMW operates 16 Regional Offices (ROs) in the Philippines and 39 Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) overseas, including MWO Dubai, which caters to the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
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What is the Migrant Workers Office?
According to the official website of MWO Dubai, the Migrant Workers Office serves as the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) official link to Filipino workers around the world. Operating under the Office of the Secretary of Migrant Workers, the MWO is responsible for implementing policies and programs related to OFWs and their families.
Notably, MWO Dubai works hand-in-hand with other Philippine government agencies, the government of Dubai and the UAE, Filipino communities, and non-government organizations (NGOs) both inside and outside the country.
MWO Dubai is led by a Labor Attaché, who supervises the following key persons: Welfare Officer for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Representatives for Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System (SSS), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); administrative staff; and other personnel.
Functions and Responsibilities
Based on its website, the functions and responsibilities of MWO Dubai are as follows:
- Promoting and implementing the DMW’s overseas employment program, as part of the overall policy thrust of the government;
- Protecting the rights as well as promoting the welfare and interests of overseas workers;
- Verifying employment contracts and other employment-related records;
- Assisting OFWs with all concerns regarding employer-employee relationships;
- Supervising and coordinating the activities of the Migrant Workers Resource Center (MWRC);
- Monitoring and reporting to the Home Office (HO) situations and policy developments in the UAE that may affect OFWs and Philippine labor policies;
- Pursuing needs-based community development and relations programs, and participating in socio-cultural events organized by the Philippine government, the UAE, Filipino communities, and other groups; and
- Performing other tasks that may be assigned by the Secretary of Migrant Workers.
Programs and Services
The MWO Dubai website shows that the office’s programs and services may be grouped under two main categories: Employment Facilitation and Documentation; and Welfare Assistance. The first category includes: Accreditation and Hiring (Skilled Workers), Accreditation and Hiring (Tadbeer), and Individual Contract Verification divisions.
Meanwhile, the second category includes the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) division, the Migrant Workers and Resource Center (MWRC), and the Social Security division, which handles different services related to OWWA, SSS, and Pag-IBIG Fund.
Here is a brief overview of each division and its respective programs/services:
Accreditation and Hiring (Skilled Workers)
This division is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the recruitment documents of principals (i.e. recruitment agencies, employers) that are planning to hire workers from the Philippines.
Accreditation and Hiring (Tadbeer)
This division is tasked to review and evaluate the recruitment documents of Tadbeers, which are planning to hire domestic workers from the Philippines.
Individual Contract Verification
This division is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the employment documents of “Balik Manggagawa” (BM) Filipino nationals. It also facilitates the encoding of verified contracts in the e-Registration system.
Assistance to Nationals (ATN)
As the term implies, this division provides assistance to OFWs with regard to labor and welfare matters, such as employment contract issues, job-related health concerns, court cases, and so on.
Migrant Workers Resource Center (MWRC)
The MWRC serves as as temporary shelter for distressed Filipina workers. It also provides them with reintegration training courses.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
Through membership with OWWA, an attached agency of the DMW, OFWs can avail of various benefits and services like social benefits, education and training, repatriation, and reintegration services. At MWO Dubai, members can seek assistance regarding OWWA membership application and renewal, welfare concerns, skills and reintegration programs, and other services.
Social Security System (SSS)
The SSS is a state-run program that provides social protection to Filipino workers in the private and professional sectors (including OFWs), and the informal sector, too. Members are entitled to many benefits like maternity, sickness, disability, and retirement.
Pag-IBIG Fund
The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), which is more popularly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, is a government program that provides affordable housing loans, multipurpose loans, savings programs, and other services to its contributing members.
Video: Information Campaign for OFW Voters
As mentioned earlier, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai is now known as the Migrant Workers Office (MWO). In March 2023, the MWO office in Dubai officially launched its new word sculpture. Check out this video of the significant event, as shared by Alvin Alvz YouTube channel:
Contact Information: MWO Dubai
If you are an OFW based in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, here are the contact details and location of the MWO Dubai office. You can contact them if you have questions, or if you need assistance:
Address: Street #2C, Beirut St., Near Al Qusais Police Station, Al Qusais 3, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 50 652 6626
Email: mwo_dubai@dmw.gov.ph
Website: http://www.mwodubai.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MWODubaiAndNorthernEmirates/
Google Map Location:
Final Thoughts
The consolidation of the POEA, POLO, and other agencies to form the Department of Migrant Workers (DMWs) has definitely made it much easier to coordinate and streamline various services for OFWs around the world. Thanks to MWO Dubai, OFWs in Dubai and the Northern Emirates can easily seek the support and assistance they need, be it contract verification, emergency assistance, temporary shelter, legal assistance, application for SSS/Pag-IBIG fund benefits, and much, much more.
One of MWO Dubai’s divisions is OWWA, which provides social benefits, education, and training, along with repatriation and reintegration services to its contributing members. If you need to renew your membership with OWWA anytime soon, check out this article for a step-by-step guide on renewing OWWA membership at the MWO Dubai office.