For workers
Leaving the Philippines to work abroad: DMW, licensed agencies and protections
How the Philippine system for overseas workers works: the Department of Migrant Workers, licensed agencies, fee rules, departure documents and legal routes to Italy.
Who this is for
Filipino citizens who want to work abroad, especially in Italy, including domestic workers and care assistants. If you are already in Italy with a residence permit, also read the page on workers' rights in Italy (in Italian).
In short
- Since 2021 the competent authority is the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which absorbed the POEA.
- Recruiting without a licence, or charging more than the allowed fees, is illegal recruitment.
- Domestic workers must not pay any placement fee.
- The Philippines in principle bans direct hiring by foreign employers, with exceptions: if an employer hires you directly, ask the DMW how to proceed before you leave.
- The Philippines is among the countries with reserved quotas in Italy's 2026-2028 entry decree.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and have exceptions. Always check the official text in the sources below and, for your own case, talk to a trade union, a qualified lawyer or the competent public authority.
The Department of Migrant Workers
Republic Act No. 11641, approved on 30 December 2021, created the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The DMW absorbed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the overseas labour offices; OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) is an agency attached to the DMW. [1] The DMW website has a list of recruitment agencies showing the status of each licence (valid, expired, ceased operations and so on).
Illegal recruitment: what the law forbids
The migrant workers law (Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by RA No. 10022 of 2010) treats as illegal recruitment, among other things: [2]
- any recruitment activity carried out by someone without a licence or authority;
- charging or accepting, directly or indirectly, more than the schedule of allowable fees;
- withholding a worker's travel documents before departure for money or for any other reason.
Placement fees: when you pay nothing
Under the 2016 POEA rules for landbased workers, an agency may charge a placement fee of at most one month's basic salary under the approved contract, only after the contract is signed and against an official receipt. No placement fee at all may be charged to domestic workers or to workers going to countries where law or practice prohibits such fees. No other charges are allowed beyond those listed in the rules. [4] The DMW may update these rules: check its website for the version in force.
In Italy, authorised or accredited agencies may not demand or receive any payment from the worker. [12] The ILO fair recruitment principles also say workers should not pay recruitment costs. [10] The Philippines does not appear to have ratified ILO Convention No. 181 on private employment agencies. [9]
Direct hiring: be careful
The Labor Code of the Philippines in principle forbids a foreign employer from hiring a Filipino worker for overseas employment except through authorised entities; there are exceptions. [3] If an Italian employer hires you directly, including through a platform, ask the DMW or the competent Migrant Workers Office how to register the contract before you leave. Be wary of anyone suggesting you travel "as a tourist" and start working later.
Departure documents and welfare
Before departure you need the exit document for overseas workers. The DMW is replacing the old Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) with the digital OFW Pass (OFW Travel Pass): since October 2025 workers returning abroad to the same employer and job ("balik-manggagawa") can use it as their exit clearance, generated through the eGovPH app. [5] Ask the DMW or the Migrant Workers Office which document applies to you. OWWA membership gives you and your family access to welfare programmes; the rules are in the OWWA Act (RA No. 10801 of 2016). [6]
Domestic and care work
The Philippines ratified ILO Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers in 2012. Italy has ratified it too. [8] For hours, rest and pay for people working for families in Italy, read the guide Working as a care assistant (in Italian).
Social security
The Philippines does not appear in the INPS list of non-EU states with a social security convention in force with Italy. [7] For contributions paid in Italy, ask a patronato (free advice centre) or INPS.
Legal routes to work in Italy
For a job as an employee, the Italian employer usually requests the work authorisation (nulla osta); with it you apply for a visa at the Italian embassy in Manila. The steps are on the page Working in Italy from outside the EU.
Italy's 2026-2028 entry decree (DPCM of 2 October 2025) reserves 25,000 entries per year, for non-seasonal employment, to citizens of countries with migration cooperation agreements with Italy. The Philippines is on the list. The same decree sets separate quotas for domestic and care work. [11]
Checklist before you leave
- Check on the DMW website that the agency holds a valid licence.
- If you will work as a domestic worker, do not pay any placement fee.
- In other cases, pay nothing before signing the approved contract, and insist on an official receipt.
- Do not pay anyone to "buy" an Italian nulla osta or visa.
- If the Italian employer hires you directly, ask the DMW how to register the contract.
- Get the required exit document (OEC or OFW Pass) before leaving and keep copies of your contract and receipts.
- Never hand your original passport to an intermediary.
- Read the guide Red flags in job ads (in Italian).