OFW Direct Hired, Easy Steps to POEA

I want to dedicate this blog to all my Co- OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) and for those who are planning to work outside the country with a direct employer. A more clearer and easier steps.

All the Citizens of Philippines who are planning to go out of the country as an OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers)  "DIRECT-HIRED" is also obliged to register at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).  www.poea.gov.ph/

POEA is located at Otigas (Edsa), Mandaluyong, Philippines, (MRT Ortigas Station)

I've red a lot of positive and negative blogs about the whole process of registering yet one thing I would say from personal experience, If you have all the proper documents it will only take one whole day process including the Pre-Departure Orientation which is also known as PDOS. In POEA there is no such thing as " under the table money". Rules are Rules. So to make my papers fast I have asked one of the Head at the Name hire unit regarding all the documents needed for different skills. I have finished all my requirements and Pre-departure orientation in one and a half day because I went on a Friday which they do not conduct PDOS so I came back on a Monday to attend the PDOS ,Finished everything and got my OEC (Overseas Employment Contract) after the payments. I am currently in China and leaving the Expatriate Life.

First thing you need to do before you agree with your Employers for signing a contract in regards of being a Direct hired, please check first if what category your desired position will fall into. If your position is on the category below the contracts will only entertain by POEA if it is verified by the POLO(Philippine Overseas Labor Office) on the country you are bound to and in case of non-polo presence, one can go to the nearest POLO or Philippine Embassy to have the contracts verified:


  http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-1158/POEA-Sets-Stricter-Rules-For-Low-and-Semi-Skilled-Jobs.html
In a circular dated June 15, 2009, POEA said, “All workers hired for listed positions will not be processed unless the individual employment contracts are verified by the POLO if bound for a country with no POLO presence." However, in cases where the host country of the outbound OFWs has no POLO, one can go to the nearest POLO or Philippine Embassy to have their work contracts verified. On the other hand the requirements for the issuance of exit clearances,individual employment contracts, processing requests, accomplished information sheets,employment visas or work permits; pre-departure orientation seminar certificates from the POEA, language orientation certificates from the Overseas Workers Welfar eAdministration (OWWA), and national certificates from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) can be found at Memorandum Circular No. 6,

The new and stricter rules were created at a time of rising incidence of low and semi- skilled overseas workers that are being abused and exploited. Here is the new list of low/semi-skilled female workers bound for all countries except Canada:

1. Aerobic instructress

2. Attendants (gasoline station, food)

3. Baker

4. Beader, embroider, dressmaker, sewer, cutter, seamstress

5. Beautician, beauty consultants, make-up artists, medicinal, manicurist, hairdresser, hairstylist, nail technician

6. Cashier

7. Chambermaid

8. Checker

9. Clerk

10. Cook

11.Customer service assistant

12. Dishwasher

13. Flower arranger/florist

14. Guest relations officer (GRO), receptionist

15. Helper

16. Janitress, cleaner

17. Kitchen helper

18. Laundry woman

19. Masseuse, reflexologist

20. Merchandiser

21. Poultry worker

22. Printer, canvasser

23. Public work, worker

24. Restaurant workers, amusementparkworker

25. Sales representative

26. Saleslady, supermarket worker

27. Sandwich maker, sweet maker

28. Secretary

29. Service crew

30. Skin care specialist

31. Storekeeper

32. Telephone operator

33. Waitress

Low/semi-skilled male workers bound for Bahrain:

1

2. Butcher

3. Carpenter

4. Liaison officer

5. Machine operator

6. Mason

7. Master cutter

8. Painter

9. Plumber

10. Room boy

11. Tailor

For those High-skilled positions such as Supervisors, Assistant Managers, and other management positions, there is no need for having a contract verified by the Philippine Embassy or POLO from the country you are bound for work.  As long as you have followed the "Philippine Standard Contract for Various Skills". 

These are the list of requirements needed for Direct Hired (Name Hire) Employees:

1. Philippine passport ( must be six months valid)

2. Visa / Working Permit

3. Medical Certificate from any Department of Health Accredited hospitals or clinic www.poea.gov.ph/ofw/ofwClinics2011.pdf

4. Original certificate of Pre-Departure Orientation (PDOS)  ( free charge of PDOS at POEA Main in Ortigas from Mondays through Thursdays from 1300H-1500H)

5. Original Employment Contract verified from the POLO or Philippine embassy of the country you are bound for work for low skilled and semi skilled workers.

    For Higher positions such as Supervisors and other Management positions no need for verification, One just need to show a scan copy of the employment contract (based on my experience processing my papers at POEA) and the Employment certificate from your previous company.

6. 2X2 ID Pictures (White Background)

7. You must have one photocopy of each documents you have submitted.

These are the following steps for registering at POEA:

1. First you must need to get a number from the guard at the ground floor. If you wanted to finish early it is always a must to arrived earlier before the opening of the office. Then you can proceed at the second floor known as the Name-Hire Unit for the step one. It is the submission of all the documents needed except the PDOS and verification of all the documents.

*If you are already registered before as an OFW they will ask you to get an OFW Record at the Fifth Floor. ( It will not take too long, you just need to fill up a form)

*For Employment Contract issues. We have these so called "Philippine Employment Contract for Various Skills" poea.gov.ph/docs/sec_various_new.pdf

 It is the standard format of POEA. If you want everything to be easier ,You must contact your Employers to have it also signed. specially it is a must for them to have the number twelve on the contract agreement between you and your employers which is as stated , "12. In the event of death of the employee during the terms of this agreement, his remains and personal belongings shall be repatriated to the Philippines at the expense of the employer. In the case the repatriation of remains is not possible, the same may be disposed of upon prior approval of the employee’s next kin and/ or by the Philippine Embassy/ Consulate nearest the job site ".

2.  They will going to put all your documents on a folder , for left side is all the photocopies and on the right side are all the original documents. They will as you to fill- up forms. After you will asked to get a schedule of PDOS at the PDOS Office on the same floor as the Name hire unit. 

3. After you have your orientation and get the certificate, you need one photocopy and you will proceed to step two it is a re-verification of your documents and they will ask you to proceed to step three for payments and filling up of form for Pag-ibig Fund, and OWWA membership.

List of Payments:

POEA Processing 100USD or Equivalent of Peso for the current exchange rate

OWWA Membership 25USD

Medicare 1200PHP 

Pag-ibig Fund 100PHP

4. Once the payment has been made they will give you an OEC Receipt (A 3-copy of receipts that you will be needed to show at the airport)