Denmark and the Philippines have formalized a new partnership to strengthen health and care workforce development, following the initialing of a government-to-government Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the education, training, and recruitment of Filipino health and care professionals.
The agreement was initialed by Danish Minister for Senior Citizens Mette Kierkgaard and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, establishing a framework grounded in ethical, transparent, and fair labor mobility.
Minister Kierkgaard welcomed the formalization of the agreement, emphasizing shared principles between the two countries. “Our partnership is built on shared values: fair recruitment, equal treatment of staff, and strong cooperation to strengthen knowledge and skills for both parties. Filipino professionals have a strong professional tradition and a great culture of care. We look very much forward to seeing this cooperation grow and flourish in the years ahead,” she said.
For his part, Secretary Cacdac said the initialing reflects both governments’ firm commitment to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment. He stressed that Denmark and the Philippines are working closely to ensure a deployment process free from exploitative practices, guaranteeing Filipino workers the same rights, protections, and decent working conditions as their counterparts abroad.
Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Mellbin underscored the broader impact of the agreement, noting that it will bring tangible benefits to both nations. “Through responsible, safe, and sustainable recruitment, this collaboration will create opportunities for Filipino workers while helping address Denmark’s needs. It will also support further upskilling and training to ensure a sufficient supply of Filipino health and care professionals, both locally and globally,” he said.
Under the MOU, Filipino professionals deployed to Denmark will gain access to continuing professional development and opportunities to exchange best practices. The program is designed to support Denmark’s health and elderly care system while safeguarding the sustainability of essential health services in the Philippines.
The framework aligns with Philippine and Danish domestic laws, international labor standards set by the International Labour Organization, and the World Health Organization Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.