MANILA – The Philippines and Malaysia are exploring ways to strengthen cooperation on employment opportunities and skills development for Filipino workers.

The discussions took place during a courtesy call by Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino to Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on July 6, as cited from Philippines News Agency.

Both sides discussed potential collaboration in skills training, green jobs, technology-driven upskilling, workforce development, and certification for the halal food industry.

They also explored initiatives to equip Filipino workers with skills aligned with the evolving needs of the regional labour market.

Tolentino also raised the issue of Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) for Malaysian nationals working in the Philippines, proposing direct coordination between the Malaysian Embassy and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to simplify the process.

“Faster time, embassy-to-department engagement... So, we do away with other extra bureaucratic layers and at the same time make this faster and seamless,” he said in a statement.

Around 300 Malaysian-owned companies currently operate in the Philippines, particularly in agribusiness, halal trade, renewable energy, tourism and logistics sectors.

In 2025, DOLE issued an estimated 2,029 AEPs to Malaysian nationals employed mainly as managers and professionals.

Castelino thanked the Philippines for its continued support and close ties, saying Malaysia recognised DOLE’s role in promoting employment opportunities and “ensuring that our workers are safe and protected.”

Malaysia remains one of the largest destinations for Filipino workers in Southeast Asia.

As of May 2025, more than 13,000 land-based overseas Filipino workers were employed in Malaysia, mainly in the construction, manufacturing, hospitality and domestic service sectors.