DMW: Hungary an option for distressed OFWs

Hungary is emerging as an option for employment for thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac said on Monday that reintegration efforts for repatriated OFWs begin with financial literacy and education while ensuring job opportunities for their return to the workforce.

“When they acquire the skills abroad, we make sure there are enough job portals, job avenues, and pathways that they may know about so they can successfully reintegrate themselves in the fields where they came from abroad, not just in Hungary for that matter,” Cacdac said.

Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Titanilla Tóth stated that Hungary is actively seeking more workers due to an increasing demand for labor, particularly in the automotive sector, following foreign investments from Asia and other parts of Europe. However, she noted that there is no set number of Filipinos Hungary aims to hire.

To date, Hungary currently allows overseas workers from only three countries, including the Philippines, its only Asian partner. Tóth attributed the country’s preference for Filipino workers to their strong work ethic and cultural alignment.

“What we experience, besides the regulations and the Department of Migrant Workers’ long history in this industry, is that Filipinos are the only Christians in Asia. In Hungary, we are also Christians. We really see that by their lifestyle, their everyday life really accommodates ours,” the ambassador said.

Despite growing job opportunities, pathways to permanent residency for Filipinos in Hungary remain unclear, as worker contracts are only up for renewal this year. However, Tóth noted that second contracts for those already in the country have been approved.

As part of the Hungary-Philippines Friendship Week, a job fair is scheduled for today, 11 March, where licensed recruitment agencies accredited by Hungary are expected to present around 3,000 job vacancies in manufacturing, hospitality and other industries.

DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan earlier stated that the initial salary for these jobs will start at €700, or around P44,000 to P45,000, to €1,000.

There are currently around 5,000 OFWs in Hungary, including both new hires and rehires. Cacdac noted that in the past two years, around 9,000 to 10,000 Filipinos have gone to Hungary for employment.