Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1467281368221991%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="960" height="540" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>MANILA — Several <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/13/more-repatriated-ofws-from-uae-arrive-in-ph-1732">repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)</a> from the Middle East hoped to secure new employment abroad at the Philippine Labor Day job fair organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas on Friday. </p><p>At the fair, 12 licensed recruitment agencies offered 3,400 job orders in countries including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Croatia, Slovakia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Guam and Papua New Guinea.</p><p>DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said most job openings were in alternative markets, but she said repatriates could still choose to return to Middle East countries after the US-Iran conflict.</p><p>“Bandang Europe and America, ino-open na po natin ang merkado para we have more opportunities and choices para sa ating manggagawa lalo na po kung ika’y skilled workers,” she said.</p><p>“Sa ngayon they’re just taking their chances. Kasi karamihan sa ating mga repatriates ay nag-iisip pa po. Sila ay nagpapahinga given the situation they’ve been thru the past three months pero ang pamahalaan po ay di tayo tumitigil na ilapit sa kanila ang iba’t ibang serbisyo,” she added.</p><p>She said 2,000 job seekers who preregistered online were prioritized, though walk-in applicants were also accommodated. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/1/marcos-says-nearly-p2-t-worth-of-investments-approved-in-2025-to-generate-150k-jobs-1257">Marcos says nearly P2-trillion investments to generate 150,000 jobs</a></div><p>Of the 6,000 repatriated OFWs, 19 from the Middle East preregistered for the job fair in Robinsons Galleria, Rubia-Tutay said.</p><p>Among them is Alejandro Domingo, who worked in the United Arab Emirates for 12 years before returning to the Philippines on April 14.</p><p>“Simula po nung na-repatriate ako plano ko po sana makasama po yung pamilya. It’s been two weeks na po so sa tingin ko time na po ulit para maghanap ng trabaho,” Domingo said.</p><p>He said he was looking for opportunities in safer countries after being affected by the growing tensions in the Middle East. </p><p>“Nakakatakot po. Actually mga drone po na na intercept from time to time simula po noong February 28 pero kinakaya naman po… Nagbabakasakali po ako na makahanap po ng trabaho sa mas ligtas na lugar,” Domingo said.</p><p>“May nahanap akong customer service sa Croatia and sa Japan po. So hopefully po matanggap,” he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/3/-we-have-to-run-fast-filipino-workers-on-life-under-fire-in-mideast-0903">&#x27;We have to run fast&#x27;: Filipino workers on life under fire in MidEast</a></div><p>Another applicant, “Malou,” returned to the Philippines on Feb. 23 and said her savings from working as a patient care assistant in Saudi Arabia were running low.</p><p>Despite her healthcare background, she said she was willing to take a cleaning job in Croatia to support her two children.</p><p>“Mahirap kasi unang-una, ang taas ng bilihin dito tsaka syempre para saakin wala akong katuwang kaya mahirap talaga. Kaya sana sa pag-aapply ko ngayon, matanggap ako,” she said.</p><p>Franco Cruz, who lined up as early as 5 a.m., is hoping to land a job in construction to make use of his degree in electrical engineering.</p><p>“I’m still working at a BPO company po. Pero yun nga po, kailangan kong sumugal eh… paano yung college fund ng anak ko? Sa current na trabaho ko ngayon, I’m getting roughly between P25,000-P30,000 monthly. Para sa akin di na siya nakakabuhay,” Cruz said.</p><p>Rubia-Tutay said the DMW continues to provide psychosocial support services for repatriates.</p><p>“Karamihan po sa kanila ay mentally hindi pa rin ganun ka stable because of the fear that was created by the Middle East Crisis,” she said.</p><p>She added that repatriates were also being referred to private sector employers and government agencies for possible job placements.</p><div><a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/nation/2026/5/1/protesters-demand-wage-hike-cheaper-commodities-on-labor-day-0917">Massive Labor Day protest demands wage hike, relief from soaring prices</a></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Several repatriated OFWs from the Middle East hoped to secure new employment abroad at the Philippine Labor Day job fair organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas on Friday.</p>

Several repatriated OFWs from the Middle East hoped to secure new employment abroad at the Philippine Labor Day job fair organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) at Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas on Friday.

Repatriates seek overseas jobs at DMW Labor Day fair

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Repatriates seek overseas jobs at DMW Labor Day fair

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 01, 2026 02:07 PM PHT

|

Updated May 24, 2026 11:50 PM PHT

Read More:

DMW

repatriates

labor day

job fair

Middle East

work

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