Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, has proposed the establishment of a Migrant Workers Relations Commission (MWRC) — a separate quasi-judicial body that will focus solely on resolving labor disputes involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Through Senate Bill No. 1480, Tulfo aims to ease the “delayed, protracted, and burdensome” process currently faced by OFWs under the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
“The National Labor Relations Commission processes over 30,000 cases each year, making OFW cases especially susceptible to delays and backlogs,” Tulfo said, noting that the NLRC’s heavy caseload hampers OFWs’ pursuit of justice.
Under the bill, the MWRC will have exclusive jurisdiction over all OFW-related cases — from illegal termination to unpaid wages — and will operate under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to ensure faster, more coherent dispute resolution.
Tulfo said the measure reinforces the government’s commitment to protect and promote the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.