The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is reminding women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Japan to remain in their jobs even in the event that they get pregnant or have given birth.
In its Advisory No. 39-2024, the DMW said recruitment agencies must help in informing female OFWs that it is not necessary for them to leave their employers in Japan if they are pregnant or have given birth.
“We remind all concerned Philippine recruitment agencies/sending organizations and accredited entities providing pre-departure orientation seminars to TITP interns to refrain from teaching or encouraging their trainees to terminate their employment and return to the Philippines if they get pregnant or give birth,” said the DMW.
The Departament noted how Japan’s “Act on Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment” provides adequate protection for women workers facing such circumstances.
Under the law in Japan, “employers must not use marriage, pregnancy, or childbirth as grounds for terminating the employment of female workers”.
“The trainee-workers must be informed of the rights of women under relevant Japanese laws,” said the DMW.
Records show that there are now over 330,000 OFWs based in Japan.
