CMW/C/PHL/CO/3
United Nations
International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families
Distr.: General
23 May 2023
Original: English
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
Concluding observations on the third periodic report of the
Philippines*
1.
The Committee considered the third periodic report of the Philippines 1 at its 519th and
521st meetings,2 held on 30 and 31 March 2023. At its 530th meeting, held on 6 April 2023,
it adopted the present concluding observations.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the submission of the third periodic report of the State
party, which was prepared in response to the list of issues prior to reporting, 3 and the
additional information provided by the multisectoral delegation that was headed by the
Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, and was comprised of representatives of
that Department as well as of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Justice, the Office of the
Court Administrator, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Statistics
Authority, and the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Office
at Geneva and officials from the said Permanent Mission.
3.
The Committee appreciates the open and constructive dialogue with the delegation,
the information provided by the State party’s representatives and the constructive approach
to the meetings, which allowed for joint analysis and reflection. The Committee notes that
the Philippines has achieved significant developments and progress since the last report.
4.
The Committee is aware that the Philippines is a country of origin, transit and
destination of migrant workers, and notes the significant number of its population working
abroad, estimated at 1.83 million in 2021 – many of them women, 60.2 per cent or 1.1 million
in 2021, and many in unskilled labour, as well as in irregular migration situations.4 It notes,
with appreciation, the demonstration of political will to promote a rights-based approach to
labour migration and migration governance, including through the creation of a specific
department mandated to implement a whole-of-government approach in this area. The State
party faces challenges as regards making migration a true choice for its population, and
particularly for groups facing multiple forms of discrimination.
* Adopted by the Committee at its thirty-sixth session (27 March–6 April 2023).
1
2
3
4
CMW/C/PHL/3.
CMW/C/SR.519 and CMW/C/SR.521.
CMW/C/PHL/QPR/3.
Philippine Statistical Authority, 2021 Overseas Filipino Workers.
GE.23-08778 (E)
220523 230523