About the Migration Governance Indicators
About the Migration Governance Indicators
Migrants' rights
Migrants' rights
Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.
Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.
Whole of government approach
Whole of government approach
Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.
Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.
Partnerships
Partnerships
This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.
Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.
Well-being of migrants
Well-being of migrants
This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.
Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.
Mobility dimensions of crises
Mobility dimensions of crises
This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.
Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Safe, orderly and regular migration
This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.
Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.
Key findings
Introduction
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Republic of the Philippines (hereafter referred to as Philippines) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.
Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.
The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Key findings
Migrants' rights
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Migrant Health Unit coordinates the overall implementation of the Migrant Health Program which, while inclusive of all migrants, is more directed to overseas Filipino workers.
- Migrant workers and residents have access to the Social Security System provided that they contribute to the social security fund or their country reciprocates the provision of social security benefits to overseas Filipinos.
- Filipino citizens living in another country can vote in national elections either by mail or in person at diplomatic missions.
- Executive Order No. 163 (2022) was implemented to create an Inter-Agency Committee on the Protection of Refugees, Stateless Persons and Asylum Seekers.
Areas with potential for further development
- Foreign nationals have access to emergency Government-funded health services only if they take up voluntary membership in the national social health insurance benefits scheme.
- While migrants can access education through a Special Study Permit issued to all international students up to the age of 18, they do not have equal access to public education as Filipino citizens.
- Not all temporary migrants are entitled to apply for an indefinite residence permit under equal conditions.
- The Philippines does not have a specific strategy or policy for combating discrimination, racism or xenophobia against migrants.
Key findings
Whole of government approach
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Different national government agencies process and monitor the employment of foreign migrants in the country, depending on the industry and employment category.
- The Overseas Filipinos–CFO Online Registration System offers an online Pre-departure Orientation Seminar for migrating Filipinos, Filipino partners of foreign nationals, and former Filipino citizens or dual nationals.
- The Commission on Filipinos Overseas coordinates efforts to engage with the diaspora population.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Philippines does not have a specific authority responsible for designing and coordinating the implementation of an overall migration policy.
- Though several laws regulate migration issues, the Philippines does not have a national migration policy or strategy.
- The Philippines regularly collects data on Overseas Filipino Workers but not on international migrants residing or working in the country.
Key findings
Partnerships
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Philippines is a member of the Regional Consultative Process on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labor for Countries of Origin in Asia, the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, as well as the Abu Dhabi Dialogue and the Asia–Europe Meeting.
- As of 2022, the Philippines has 52 bilateral migration treaties with other countries and five regional migration mobility agreements with other countries.
- The country engages with CSOs and the private sector, both formally and informally, in agenda-setting and the implementation of migration-related programmes.
- The Philippines engages members of its diaspora and expatriate communities in the development of migration policy.
Areas with potential for further development
- The partnerships of the Philippines with various organizations, both at the national and local levels, are ingrained in government operations but may not be formally documented or established through memorandums.
Key findings
Well-being of migrants
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Philippines’ labour protection mechanisms are gender-responsive and apply equally to both nationals and migrants.
- The Philippines has formalized criteria for recognizing foreign qualifications for some professions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
- The country has developed measures that promote ethical recruitment for Filipino migrant workers.
- The National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) (2022–2028) includes Filipino “migrant workers and their families” and “forcibly displaced persons” as target segments for financial inclusion.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Philippines does not have a national assessment monitoring the labour market demand for migrants or monitoring the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market.
- The country does not have different types of work visas to attract specific labour skills.
- International students are charged higher fees than nationals, and there are quotas imposed for international students in medicine and dentistry courses.
Key findings
Mobility dimensions of crises
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022 aims to harmonize government programmes and initiatives relating to internal armed conflict and seeks to protect the rights and promote the interests of vulnerable groups (including women, indigenous peoples, children, the elderly and internally displaced persons).
- The Philippines has strategies in place for addressing migration linked to environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Assistance to Nationals Units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development implements measures to assist nationals living abroad in times of crises.
Areas with potential for further development
- There are no specific strategies to assist migrants before, during and post crisis in the country.
- Communication systems in place to receive information on the evolving nature of crises and on how to access assistance through mobile alerts are focused on the protection of nationals only.
Key findings
Safe, orderly and regular migration
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Bureau of Immigration’s Border Control Cluster runs a centralized Border Control Information System that processes arriving and departing passengers.
- The Philippines has measures in place to assist the return and reintegration of its nationals who have emigrated.
- The Philippines expanded and strengthened its Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act through Republic Act No. 11862 (2022), empowering authorities to address the Internet and digital aspects of human trafficking.
- The country has policies and procedures in place for the timely identification of migrants in vulnerable situations and to provide them with adequate referral and protection services.
Areas with potential for further development
- The Philippines does not have a policy or a strategy to ensure that migrant detention is used only as a measure of last resort.
- The Philippines actively supports the pre-departure medical requirements of Overseas Filipino Workers but can enhance the post-arrival medical assistance or screening of returning OFWs as part of return and reintegration efforts.
- The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking has robust data collection and management on Filipino victims of trafficking, but there is no or insufficient data on foreign nationals that were trafficked to or across the Philippines.
2022 October
