PHL Overseas & Labor Office
Issuance of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
- Travel exit pass for OFWs at the airports
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An exemption certificate from payment of Travel Tax and airport terminal fee upon presentation to the airline counter and airport terminal fee counter
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Worker’s guarantee that he/she is covered by government protection and benefits;
Client/s/Applicant/s
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OFWs on leave/vacationing or returning to same employer after a specified term of contract or to same employer who has transferred to another jobsite.
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OFWs who have partially served their present employer.
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Undocumented OFWs (tourists, dependents, students, businessman) who became OFWs and have partially served the same employer
Requirements:
- Valid original passport
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Official Receipt for the valid OWWA Membership payment
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Valid re-entry visa, work permit or any equivalent document
- Copy of Plane ticket or printed e-ticket
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Others, as may be necessary - Any proof that OFW is returning to the same employer (such as: company ID, employment certificate, pay slip, etc). for WOL/BMs with newly issued documents and visas or if OFW has no record on file at POEA
OWWA / MEDICARE / PAGIBIG
OVERSEAS WORKERS AND WELFARE ADMINISTRATION (OWWA)
Membership Procedures
- By enrolment upon processing of contract at POEA (compulsory coverage); or
- By voluntary registration of OFWs at jobsites overseas (voluntary coverage).
Amount of Contribution
US$25.00 or its equivalent in an appropriate currency.
Effectivity of membership
Membership, either through compulsory or voluntary, shall be effective upon payment of membership contribution until expiration of the employment contract, but not exceeding two years at a time. In cases of voluntary members who register on-site, coverage shall not exceed two years also at a time. Membership are, however, renewable.
Benefits
Insurance
1) Life insurance coverage for the duration of the employment contract as follows:
P100,000 for natural death
P200,000 for accidental death
2) Disability and dismemberment benefits within the range of P2,000 to P50,000. This is a rider provision of his life insurance as provided for in the impediment schedule.
3) Total disability benefit of P100,000 in case of total permanent disability
4) Burial benefit of P20,000 in case of the member's death.
Education and Training Benefits
1) Skills-for-employment scholarship program
2) Education for Development Scholarship Program
3) Seafarer's upgrading program
For baccalaureate courses, a maximum of P60,000 educational assistance per year shall be provided to qualified beneficiaries of OFWs.
For seafarer's upgrading program, member seafarers shall be entitled to one upgrading program for every three (3) membership contributions. Qualified grantees shall be provided with maximum training assistance of P7,500.
Workers Assistance and On-site Services
Members may avail of on-site assistance such such as locating the OFWs, providing information and guidance , developing materials for the pre-departure Orientation Seminars, conducting psycho-social counselling, conciliation services, medical and legal assistance and outreach missions, among others.
Social Services and Family Welfare Assistance
Repatriation Program. Members may avail of OWWA's assistance to return to the Philippines whenever necessary.
Reintegration Program. Members may avail of the reintegration Program of the Department of labor and Employment. This includes community organizing, capability building , social preparation programs and livelihood loan.
Electronic card or e-card
It is an OFW's identification card issued by the Department of Labor and Employment thru its attached agencies (OWWA and POEA).
Benefits of an e-card
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- Serves as a proof that cardholder is a legitimate OFW and an OWWA member
- Provides as permanent ID card number that will link information about an OFW
- Can be used in dealing with various government and private agencies
- Facilitates availment of OWWA benefits and services
- Can be used as a remittance card and ATM or a debit card at the option of the OFW.
MEDICARE PROGRAM (MEDICARE)
In countries, where there are no offices of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH), application can be filed and processed at any branch of PHILHEALTH in the Philippines.
PAGIBIG OVERSEAS PROGRAM (PAGIBIG)
The POP is a voluntary savings program which aims to provide Filipino overseas contract workers, immigrants, permanent residents and seafarers the opportunity to save for their future and avail of a housing loan of as much as P2,000,000.
A Filipino who works overseas, or is an immigrant, permanent resident or seafarer may enlist as a member. To register, accomplish and submit the Member’s Data Form (MDF) together with the required membership contributions. Also, attach a photocopy of the passport or contract, and a 1” x 1” ID photo.
Vacationing in the Philippines
For those who will go on vacation and will go back to the employer after one month, there is no need to go to POEA for processing because the employer and employment contract had been previously verified. However, as a balik-manggagawa (worker-on-leave), the worker has to secure a travel exit clearance (Overseas Employment Certificate or e-receipt) at the POEA Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Processing Center, regional extension units, for overseas at POLO and satellite offices, to enable the worker to leave the country again and avail of the privileges, such as exemption from travel tax and airport terminal fee.
Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or e-receipt (electronic receipt)
The OEC is a certificate issued to departing OFWs (new hires and balik manggagawa or worker-on-leave). It is being issued in the regional overseas and satellite offices where there are no facilities yet for the generation of e-receipt and also when the computer system in the main office is down.
The e-receipt is an electronic generated receipt issued to departing OFWs (new hires/BM) integrating the collection of POEA processing fee, OWWA membership insurance and Philhealth premium.
The OFW Travel Exit Clearance comes in the form of an ‘OEC' or an ‘e-receipt', certifying to the regularity of a worker's recruitment and documentation and also ensures exemption from travel tax and airport terminal fee
The OEC or e-receipt serves as the worker's guarantee that he/she is covered by government protection and benefits.
Amount of an OEC or e-receipt
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- P100.00 POEA processing fee
- US$25.00 or its equivalent as OWWA membership fee
- P900.00 Philhealth premium
- (A worker on leave/BM with valid OWWA membership and Philhealth coverage shall pay only P100.00 POEA processing fee)
Documents needed to get a travel exit clearance (OEC/e-receipt)
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- Valid Passport
- Valid entry visa, work permit or any equivalent document
Validity period of an OEC/e-receipt
Sixty(60) days from date of its issuance
Availment of Reduced Travel Tax by Dependents
Returning OFWs with dependents who want to avail of reduced travel tax need to secure a certified copy of the OEC/e-receipt or OFW information sheet for submission to the Philippine Tourism Authority, the agency that issues travel tax payment or exemption.
Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC)
The MTEC is a set of two or more clearances issued to a worker-on-leave/Balik Manggagawa for use as an exit document within a period of twelve months from date of issuance. It allows the worker-on-leave/Baling Manggagawa who exits from the Philippines more than once in a period of twelve months to secure his exit clearance on a one-time basis.
Note: Starting March 24, 2008, departing OFWs shall present the exit clearance or overseas employment certificate issued by the POEA directly to the airline countries, terminal fee counters, and the Bureau of Immigration counters.
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