Handbook for OFWs Soon to be issued by the Philippine Government

The Overseas Filipino Workers handbook Law or the Republic Act No.1122 was signed on February 22 this year and was made public on March 2, 2019. The law amended the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995”. The legislative branch of the government obligates Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to issue the handbook to OFWs working abroad for free. The handbook will be given for free to OFWs that are either land-based workers and/or sea-based workers.

The law helps the worker's education program for various agencies. This includes the primary information on the working and living conditions and the benefits and disadvantages of working abroad.


The handbook may help Filipinos planning to work abroad because it includes basic information regarding the conditions of living in countries from all over the world.

The primary author of the law is Senator Manny Pacquiao. He believes that it is the obligation of the government to assure that Filipinos working outside of the Philippines or those who are planning to work outside of the country will be provided with the basic knowledge that they will need to survive in a specific foreign country.

Pacquaio pointed out that OFWs should have primary information that is readily accessible when needed. The many cases of abuse from foreign employers were also one of the purposes of the creation of the handbook.



One good feature of the handbook is the reintegration once the OFW decides to return to the Philippines.

The other government agencies that are required to implement the law are the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking (IACAT), Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).