Guide
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is a term often used to refer to Filipino migrant workers, people with Filipino citizenship who reside in another country for a limited period of employment.
In a survey conducted last 2019 on Overseas Filipinos, the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked abroad at any time during the period April to September 2019 was estimated at 2.2 million.
Despite the relentless increase in number, working abroad entails a lot of effort. Besides complying with visa documentation in the aspiring OFW's sponsor country, there is one important document that should not be overlooked. Here's what you have to know about OEC and the entire process of exit clearance in the Philippines.
OEC stands for Overseas Employment Certificate. This is the OFW’s travel exit clearance, which serves as proof of being a documented overseas worker. Securing this shall grant you permission to leave the country not as a tourist but as an overseas worker.
The OEC is presented at immigration upon departure. This shall only valid for 60 days from the issuance date. Thus, if you’re planning to fly out of the country or planning your trip to the Philippines, your exit must fall in that 60-day period.
In a nutshell, an OEC will grant the OFW the following:
Individuals who are hired by an employer overseas through a local agency will only need to compile the documents required as the agency will process OEC for them. On the other hand, those who are hired directly by an overseas employer will have to do it themselves through their POEA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) offices or through their online portal.
In this case, an applicant shall most likely opt for recruitment agencies. This may look like the easier way out but no, there's so much more to expect in terms of this nitty-gritty business of getting you work abroad. The government has made strict measures to protect every citizen by securing the best possible terms and conditions of employment. This is also meant to ensure that each one's rights are protected in whichever country they may be working in.
Here's a quick overview of what OFWs, as well as their respective agencies, go through from preparing their documents to finally bidding farewell to family members at the airport.
Last 26th of April 2018, a memorandum circular was issued in accordance with the POEA Rules and Regulations. This generally stated that no employer shall directly hire an Overseas Filipino Worker for overseas employment except for the following:
a. Members of the diplomatic corps;
b. International organizations;
c. Heads of state and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister; ord.
d. Other employers as may be allowed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, such as:
If you have already identified which from these exceptions is applicable to you, then you may proceed to following these steps indicated below.
Step 1: Visa Stamping
Requirements for Canadian Visa
Step 2: Submission of Documentary Requirements
Step 3: Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar
The online seminar is free. There are 8 modules, each with an assessment test that takes around 7 minutes on average to finish. After completing all modules, domestic-helpers-wanna-be will receive a PEOS Certificate which can be used as a complementary certificate when finding a job.
How to take the seminar?
Step 4: Medical Exam
The POEA has a list of Department of Health (DOH)-accredited clinics for the OFW medical screening. They have a specific format and set of tests for the OFW’s “fit to work” medical certificate, so it’s important that you go to an accredited clinic.
Step 5: Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar
PDOS is short for the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar, which is a compulsory program an applicant must take before given clearance to exit the Philippines for work abroad.
The seminar is specific to region or country, meaning there are different seminars for different domestic work destinations. These seminars are facilitated by people who have previously worked in those destination countries. PDOS provides modules about:
Step 6: OEC Application
OEC stands for Overseas Employment Certificate. This is the OFW’s travel exit clearance, which serves as proof of being a documented overseas worker. Securing this shall grant you permission to leave the country not as a tourist but as an overseas worker.
The OEC is presented at immigration upon departure. This shall only valid for 60 days from the issuance date. Thus, if you’re planning to fly out of the country or planning your trip to the Philippines, your exit must fall in that 60-days period.
In a nutshell, an OEC will grant the OFW the following:
Walk-in application
Online application
Needed information: Passport number and expiration, visa validity, birthplace, SSS, Philhealth, Pag-IBIG, local mobile phone number, mother’s full maiden name, and many others.
If you’re hired through an agency, you'll be less stressed with all the manual paperwork for you to run. The need to authenticate your employer’s papers is handled entirely by the agency. However, the job application won't be easy because you're going to different hoops and try to outmatch other candidates for the employment that you’re applying for. Most agencies conduct massive hiring and do processing by batch so you'll have to wait and leave it all up to the timeline of the said agency.
During recruitment, expect that you’ll have to go through a series of scheduled interviews. While other may be fortunate enough to finish this within a few days, most applicants will take a few weeks, or even months! So, not only is it challenging because of the number of people that you have to outwit, but also because of how dragging it can get.
Step 1: Submission of Documentary Requirements
a. Request for processing (RFP) using the POEA-prescribed form indicating the following:
b. Passport valid at least six (6) months from the intended date of departure
c. Valid and appropriate visa
d. Individual verified employment contracts for low/semi-skilled workers
e. One-page summary of the contract for other highly-skilled and professional Overseas Filipino Workers containing the following basic contract provisions:
f. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) Certificates
g. Certificate of medical fitness issued by DOH-accredited medical clinics for OFWs
h. Educational attainment
i. TESDA Skill Certification
Now these next steps will be duly accomplished by the agency you are working with.
Step 2: Accreditation
Requirements for Accreditation of the Principal/Employer
A. General Requirements:
B. Additional Requirements:
B.1. For Foreign Placement Agencies
B.2. For Staffing/Sourcing Company
Step 3: Issuance of Accreditation Certificate
The Administration/POLO shall issue, upon full compliance with the requirements, a certificate of accreditation duly signed by an authorized officer, which shall contain the following information:
a. Name of the employer/company
b. Complete business address, email address, contact number
c. Name of authorized representative
d. Validity period
e. Date of issuance
Step 4: Registration
The POEA shall register a principal/employer duly accredited by the POLO upon submission of the certificate of accreditation by the POLO, including the supporting documents.
Step 5: Processing of Agency-Hires' Documentary Requirements
Note: The minimum deployment age and the minimum salary of a domestic worker shall be determined by the POEA Governing Board.
Step 6: Issuance of OEC
While agencies are known to make the process a lot easier for aspiring OFWs, you have to be vigilant enough in order to protect yourself. Before you pursue a job offer and start processing or paying any fee for an employment agency, make sure that you verify their legitimacy first beforehand. You can go to poea.gov.ph and check out the complete list of licensed and accredited agencies.
Only OFWs who are returning to the same employer or workplace and have a record in the POEA database can be exempted from securing an OEC.
To get an OEC exemption, log in to your BM Online account before your scheduled return to your employer. Then click on “Acquire OEC or Exemption.” If you’re exempted, the system will display a confirmation message with your BM Exemption number and pre-departure instructions on what documents to present at the airport.
Now, you have finally arrived to the stage where you've done packing your bags and you've made past all the necessary procedures and actions. But wait, there are a few things to note on departure formalities.
1. First Time Overseas Filipino Workers
1.1 Travelers under this classification shall present the following documents as validated by the Labor Assistance Center (LAC):
a. Passport
b. Visa
c. Airline/Seacraft Tickets
d. Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
1.2 Allowable Visa Usage (Based on POEA Rules and Regulations)
Should there be any discrepancy in the actual job position/job title in the visa and in the Overseas Employment Certificate, travel may nevertheless be allowed provided that the POEA through its LAC has validated and approved the variance based on the following:
a. The visa category is related to the workers’ position or in line with the principal’s nature of business;
b. The recruitment agency executes an Undertaking on Visa Usage; and
c. The worker is aware of the visa discrepancy situation and has executed a Declaration of Awareness and Consent.
1.3 Instance When Visa Usage is NOT Allowed (Based on POEA Rules and Regulations)
The use of Visa Usage Undertaking (VUU), however, does not, and can never, apply to Household Service Workers (HSW). The visa category should be strictly for household-based positions, otherwise, a traveler will not be cleared for departure and the aforementioned documents shall be confiscated for further investigation and appropriate action.
1.4 For Acts Involving Reprocessing of Contracts and Other Documents
OFWs in possession of “reprocessed” documents shall not be cleared for departure.
Based on R.A. No. 10022, the following constitute acts of reprocessing:
The job description/position as indicated in the work visa is different from all other pertinent documents such as the Overseas Employment Certificate, the PDOS Certificate, among others;
The actual job as promised or offered is different from the actual overseas work as indicated in the pertinent papers; and
All documents used under the afore-mentioned provision shall be confiscated and turned over to the POEA for further investigation and appropriate action.
2. Balik-manggagawa/ Returning Workers
2.1 The following OFWs fall under the category of Balik-Manggagawa/Returning Workers:
a. Worker-on-Leave – a worker who is on vacation or on leave from employment under a valid and existing employment contract and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of any change in the job site, to finish the remaining unexpired portion of the contact.b. Rehire – a worker who was rehired by the same employer after finishing his/hercontact and who is returning to the same employer, regardless of a change in the job site.c. POLO registered worker – a returning worker whose employment contract was not processed with the POEA but was subsequently verified and registered with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in the job site and who is returning to the same employer either as a worker-on-leave or rehire, regardless of any change in the job site. The same employer/principal refers to the current employer of the worker at the time he/she came home for vacation and to whom he/she is returning to resume employment upon return to the job site.
2.2 Balik-Manggagawa OFWs shall be required to present the following:
a. Passport b. Valid visa c. Airline/sea Craft Ticket d. OEC issued onsite by the POLO or by the POEA
2.3 In case of incomplete or questionable documentary requirements, the OFW shall be referred to the POEA-LAC for further investigation and appropriate action.
3.Overseas Filipino Workers on vacation but visiting other countries before returning to original worksite/destination
A Balik-Manggagawa OFW with a valid visa and existing work contact who intends to go to other countries while on vacation need not get a POEA travel exit clearance/OEC. Hence, he/she is considered a tourist and is not exempt from travel tax and terminal fee, but shall be allowed to travel.
The road to becoming a legit Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) will be strenuous and demanding. But once you're able to surpass all these, you'll surely be proud of yourself not only for your personal milestone but of the contribution you'll be bringing to country's economy and progress!
Last edited: 10/07/2020
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