How to Hire Workers from the Philippines for Europe

---

If you are a European company looking to hire skilled Filipino workers, understanding the legal overseas recruitment process is essential.

The Philippines is one of the world’s top sources of:

• Skilled construction workers 
• Manufacturing staff
• Caregivers and healthcare workers
• Hospitality staff
• Agricultural workers
• Welders, electricians, and technicians

Filipino workers are known for strong English communication skills, technical expertise, and international work experience.

How Do I Hire Workers from the Philippines?

To legally hire workers from the Philippines, European employers must partner with a Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) licensed recruitment agency. Alizabeth Recruitment Inc., is a DMW licensed recruitment agency.
 

This ensures compliance with:

• Philippine overseas labor laws
• Worker protection regulations
• Ethical recruitment standards
• EU employment compliance requirements

MWO Employer Verification → DMW Accreditation → Recruitment & Deployment

What Is the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)?

MWO (Migrant Workers Office) is a Philippine government office under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that protects and supports Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) abroad.

It provides services such as contract verification, welfare assistance, dispute mediation, repatriation support, and coordination with employers to ensure the rights and well-being of Filipino workers are upheld in their host countries.

1. MWO Employer Verification (FIRST STEP)

Before any recruitment begins, the foreign employer must undergo verification with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)

MWO offices are located inside Philippine Embassies and Consulates across Europe. They represent the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)
 

What MWO Verifies:

✔ Company legal registration in Europe
✔ Business license validity
✔ Physical office or worksite existence
✔ Financial capacity
✔ Employment contract terms
✔ Salary compliance with host-country labor laws

🇪🇺 MWO Employer Verification for European Countries

European employers in countries such as:

• Germany 
• Poland
• Croatia
• Romania
• Hungary 
• Malta 
• Spain
• Portugal

must submit documents to the Philippine Embassy’s MWO covering their jurisdiction.

Typical MWO Requirements:

• Company registration certificate
• VAT registration 
• Manpower request letter 
• Draft employment contract
• Copy of authorized signatory passport/ID
• Proof of business address
• Company profile
• Recruitment Agreement between direct employer or Foreign Recruitment Agency (FRA) and Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA)

📌 Processing Time: 2–4 weeks (varies per country)

Once approved, MWO issues verified documents that are submitted to DMW in the Philippines.

Without MWO verification, recruitment cannot legally proceed.

2. DMW Employer Accreditation (SECOND STEP)

After MWO verification, the Philippine recruitment agency files for accreditation with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)

DMW reviews:

✔ MWO-verified employer documents
✔ Job order details
✔ Salary structure
✔ Benefits package
✔ Compliance with Philippine overseas employment rules

Once approved, the job order is officially registered.

3. Candidate Sourcing & Screening (Third Step)

Your licensed Philippine recruitment agency will:

• Source qualified Filipino workers
• Conduct trade tests (for skilled roles)
• Verify certifications
• Perform background checks
• Shortlist candidates

You may conduct final interviews online or onsite.

Conducting interviews without MWO and DMW Accreditation will be considered illegal recruitment by the Philippine government. 

4. Contract Signing & Processing (FOURT STEP)

After selection:

• Employment contracts are finalized
• Workers complete medical exams
• Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is conducted
• Visa application is processed

5. OEC Issuance & Deployment (FIFTH STEP)

Before departure, the worker receives an:

Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)

This certifies that the deployment is legal and fully compliant.

Only after OEC issuance can the worker legally depart the Philippines.

1. Employer accreditation with the MWO of the Foreign Recruitment Agency (FRA) or Direct Employer. Once accredited with the MWO, The Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA) will seek accreditation with the DMW. 
2. Submission of Job order and Contract Verification
3. Approval of Job Order
4. Candidate sourcing and screening
5. Interview and selection
6. Contract Signing
7. Visa processing
8. OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) issuance
9. PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar)
10. Deployment
     

Working with a licensed Philippine recruitment agency ensures smooth processing and avoids illegal recruitment risks.

Alizabeth Recruitment Inc., does end to end recruitment for our European clients and partners. 

If you're searching:

• “How to recruit skilled workers from the Philippines”
• “Philippine recruitment agency for Europe”
• “Hire Filipino workers for construction in Europe”
• “Filipino manpower supply agency”
• “International recruitment agency Philippines”
   

Here’s what you need to know:

European employers cannot directly recruit workers without proper government coordination. The safest and most efficient method is:

✔ Partner with a licensed manpower agency in the Philippines
✔ Submit your manpower requirements
✔ Allow pre-screening and trade testing
✔ Conduct final interviews
✔ Complete legal documentation

This protects your company from:

• Immigration violations
• Contract disputes
• Non-compliance penalties
• Delayed deployment

• MWO Employer Verification: 2–4 weeks
• DMW Accreditation & Job Order Approval: 2–4 weeks
• Recruitment & Interviews: 3–6 weeks
• Visa & Processing: 4–8 weeks
   

📌 Total Average Timeline: 2 to 4 months

This depends on:

• Destination country (Germany, Poland, Croatia, Romania, etc.)
• Visa processing speed
• Job category (skilled vs. semi-skilled)
• Volume of workers requested 

For urgent manpower needs, pre-qualified talent pools can reduce hiring time.

✔ High English proficiency
✔ Strong work ethic
✔ Cultural adaptability
✔ Competitive labor cost
✔ Skilled and certified workforce
✔ Government-regulated deployment system

Failure to undergo:

• MWO Employer Verification
• DMW Accreditation 

may result in:

• Deployment denial
• Embassy refusal
• Worker offloading at airport
• Blacklisting 
• Legal penalties
   

Working with a licensed recruitment agency ensures full compliance with Philippine and European labor regulations.