Czech Republic ups quota for Filipino workers to 10,000

MANILA, Philippines — Czech Republic has doubled the quota for Filipino workers entering their country starting March 2024.

The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that can enter Czech Republic has gone up from 5,500 in January to almost 10,300 per year starting May 2024, President Marcos Jr. announced during a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel.

“We are ready to cooperate in ensuring the orderly deployment of Filipinos to your country, in accordance with both Czech and Philippine laws,” Marcos said.

An estimated 7,026 Filipinos are currently in the Czech Republic, based on data from the Czech Ministry of Interior.

The Philippines and Czech Republic this week inked a labor pact that will establish a labor consultations mechanism between the Department of Migrant Workers and the Czech Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Communication Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the labor deal between the two nations aims to establish a system to discuss areas of mutual interests, including proper procedures for employing Filipino citizens in the Central European country.

“Given the increasing demand for Filipino workers, DMW deemed it necessary for the Philippines and the Czech Republic to enter into a labor agreement,” Garafil said in a statement.

Garafil added that the agreement is aimed at outlining the rights and responsibilities of both countries and "ensuring that recruitment is implemented in a fair and ethical manner."

Filipino workers in the Czech Republic are engaged in the processing industry, automotive, repair of appliances, manufacturing, IT communications, real estate, health or wellness, and household service work.