A prominent Philippine lawyer has asked the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to suspend its new policy raising the minimum wage of Filipino domestic workers abroad from USD 400 to USD 500.
In a September 12 letter, Atty. Rahima S. Ayunan, head of Jamal Human Resource Internationale, appealed to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to hold off on implementing Advisory No. 25, Series of 2025.
She said the move should wait until bilateral labor agreements with Gulf states are finalized, stressing that the policy is “well-meaning but premature.”
Ayunan explained that under Republic Act 11641, the DMW must coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and respect host country laws.
She warned that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials have already voiced opposition to unilateral wage changes, which could trigger diplomatic friction.
The lawyer also raised concerns over the financial risks for Philippine recruitment agencies.
Under Philippine law, agencies are held liable if foreign employers reject contract terms. Without formal agreements with host countries, agencies may face lawsuits, contract substitutions, or even deployment bans.
The GCC is the largest destination for Filipino household service workers, with more than 562,000 deployed between 2022 and 2024.
Ayunan said a sudden wage hike could disrupt deployment pipelines to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and other Gulf states.
Instead of outright implementation, she recommended deferring the policy, working with the DFA to negotiate recognition of the new USD 500 wage, and phasing in enforcement only in countries that officially agree.
