Safe & Fair Program Transforms Labor Migration for Women

The Safe and Fair Program officially completed its five-year implementation, marking a landmark milestone for gender-responsive migration policy and a transforming journey for women migrant workers. The program, a regional initiative of the European Union-United Nations Spotlight Initiative, invests EUR 500 million on combating violence against women and girls worldwide.

Despite widespread obstacles such as discrimination, abuse, labour exploitation, and economic disruptions, Filipino women and migrant workers received increased assistance through the Safe and Fair (SAF) initiative.

The program, co-executed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Women, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aims to provide safer circumstances for labour migrants throughout the process, from recruiting to working abroad, and eventually repatriation and reintegration.

The program's influence was seen via legislative and policy reforms, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns to address crucial concerns confronting migrant women. These initiatives focused on violence and discrimination, ineffective migration governance, and a lack of accessible services. The initiative established a new norm for labour migration by emphasizing the importance of women's voices, choices, and agency.

As the Safe and Fair Program came to a close, it highlighted success stories and lessons gained while highlighting strategic possibilities for Filipino women and migrant workers to navigate a safer and more equitable labour migration path. This achievement demonstrates a commitment to creating a more fair and secure environment for women in the global workforce.