The Philippines and Romania agreed to renew their bilateral labor framework and convene their first Joint Committee Meeting to enhance protections and ethical recruitment for Filipino workers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced Thursday.

The agreement was reached during bilateral discussions Wednesday in Bucharest between Philippine Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Romanian Minister of Labor Dragoș-Nicolae Pîslaru and State Secretary Silvia Monica Dinică.

Under the framework of their 2021 memorandum of understanding, the initiative focuses on strengthening ethical recruitment, fair working conditions, social protection, and employer accountability.

“As we pursue the renewal of our bilateral labor agreement, convene the Joint Committee Meeting, and establish the Migrant Workers Office in Bucharest, we are strengthening a modern framework that promotes ethical recruitment, protects the rights and welfare of Filipino workers, and supports Romania’s evolving labor market needs,” Cacdac said.

Data from the DMW shows approximately 2,000 Filipino temporary migrant workers reside in Romania, primarily employed in automotive production, manufacturing and domestic services. ENM

The Philippine delegation — which included Ambassador Noel Eugene Servigon and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan — also welcomed Romania’s Emergency Ordinance No. 32/2026.

Adopted in April, the legislation overhauls Romania’s non-European Union labor migration rules by mandating digital registration and licensing for recruitment agencies while explicitly banning placement fees and commission charges on foreign workers.

During the talks, Cacdac also briefed Romanian authorities on the Philippine delegation’s recent visit to Tulcea following July 6 maritime attacks on vessels in the Northern Black Sea.

The delegation paid tribute to a Filipino chief engineer killed in the incident and met with more than 200 Filipino shipyard workers at VARD Tulcea to address safety concerns and deploy assistance.