MWO-WDC HOLDS SERVICE CARAVAN, GIVES AID TO DISTRESSED OFWs IN CAYMAN ISLANDS

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-74-2025

07 November 2025

Embassy Press and Information Section

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Washington, D.C. (MWO-OWWA WDC) held a three-day service caravan on 31 October to 02 November 2025 in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. There were 629 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who availed of contract verification while 748 OFWs registered or renewed their OWWA membership.

Labor Attaché Saul De Vries said that an estimated 5,000 Filipinos are working in Cayman Islands, the biggest OFW population in the Caribbean. They work in finance, hospitality, security, domestic service, retail trade, healthcare, education, wellness and self-care, and other sectors. “With the growing number of OFWs in this British overseas territory, our aim is to conduct regular outreach mission so we can serve more OFWs in the islands as directed by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac,” De Vries said.

While in Cayman Islands, the MWO and OWWA Team also gave financial assistance under the DMW AKSYON Fund and OWWA Welfare Assistance Program to four (4) distressed OFWs who are awaiting resolution of their cases. They also repatriated one female OFW who sought repatriation assistance since she can no longer continue working due to non-renewal of her work permit.

The service caravan was preceded by a Town Hall Meeting where MWO and OWWA programs were presented as well DMW rules and regulations on direct-hiring, illegal recruitment, third-country recruitment and workers’ rights and obligations. Seventy OFWs attended the meeting on 30 October 2025 at the Holiday Inn Grand Cayman Resort, the venue of the service caravan.

Philippine Honorary Consul Arturo Ursua and the One Filcom Group Filipino Community of Cayman Islands helped organized the service caravan. Labor Attaché De Vries, Welfare Officer Mae Codilla, Ms. Freya Palad and Mr. Oliver Flores composed the MWO-OWWA Team that conducted the activity.

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