The Philippines and Finland have strengthened their cooperation on the mobility of skilled workers through their first Joint Committee Meeting on Skills Mobility, held on Wednesday 17 September 2025 in Helsinki.
According to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the meeting marked a step forward in advancing safe and fair labor mobility for Filipino professionals and skilled workers. The Joint Committee, co-chaired by officials from both governments, discussed pathways for ethical recruitment, skills recognition and worker protection, while supporting Finland’s labor market needs.
The Finnish delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Finnish Immigration Service, Work in Finland, and the City of Helsinki. The Philippine side was led by DMW Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara and Deputy Chief of Mission Elaine Mae Laruan-Hernandez, along with embassy and labor officials.
During the meeting, both countries adopted a Joint Declaration of Intent and explored the possibility of a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize the cooperation. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the declaration reaffirms a shared vision for labor mobility “characterized by fairness, dignity and mutual benefit.”
Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment, Arto Olavi Sartonen, highlighted Finland’s need for skilled workers and confirmed that the Philippines, along with India and Vietnam, remain among their primary sources for labor migration. He also committed to ensuring Filipino workers enjoy the same rights and salaries as Finnish employees.
As of 2023, around 12,770 Filipinos were employed in Finland, mainly in healthcare, technology, service and industrial sectors.
Source: GOV PH
