Considered to be a modern-day heroes because of their dedication to work away from home to give their loved ones a better life, they are referred as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), Filipinos who work abroad in exchange better financial instability not only for themselves but more so for the family.

They also contribute big time to the country’s economy because of the remittances they send back home.

Obviously, OFW remittances shape the macroscopic economy of the Philippines. But they offer many far-felt and deep-rooted microscopic benefits too. OFW remittances still provide the growth that matters most in the lives of Filipinos. The money goes straight to households, to relatives, families, and friends – who use them to better their lives to finance food, shelter, education, and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Money transferred by Filipinos from all over the world accounts for at least 10 percent of the country’s GDP. It is the second largest source of foreign capital after value added exports like electronic components, and a major source of private consumption, which in turn accounts for 75 percent of the GDP.

The impact of remittances on the Philippine economy goes beyond GDP numbers. OFW remittances have contributed significantly to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. In doing so, these remittances have contributed to strengthening the nation’s position regarding balance of payments, bolstering the surplus on current accounts.

Inward remittances augment the total income of the recipient households. If the household already has a source of domestic income, it adds to the disposable income. With more income, household consumption rises. This goes in different directions – from basic needs to an improved consumption basket of food, clothing, leisure, and then some luxuries. There’s no denying that most families enjoy an improvement in their standard of living.

An important element of this phenomenon is the effect on the typical household’s educational choices. Families now have more opportunities to offer better quality education to children. This is arguably one of the most crucial impacts of OFW remittances on the economy. While OFWs send money to the Philippines regularly, these remittances impact not only regular household chores but also their loved ones’ future.

Thus, the Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE), through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), intensifies its efforts to ensure that OFWs, particularly those in vulnerable occupations, are properly documented as a form of protection.

The POEA evaluates and processes the documents of applicants for overseas employment to ensure that their contracts conform to the standards and requirements governing the employment of Filipino workers overseas; and issues the Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) to certify that they have valid overseas employment contracts to work overseas.

To facilitate faster processing of documents, the POEA implements the following:

New Hires Online Services for Recruitment and Manning Agencies.These involve the submission to the POEA by licensed agencies recruiting land-based and sea-based workers of their new hires’ employment documents using the Internet, and paying the processing fees online. The online services, which promote paperless transactions, save time, track updates, and costs less, include the e-Payment System for Agency-Hired Workers, Online Recruitment Application on Special Recruitment Authority (SRA) and Letter of Authority.
 

Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Online Processing System.This is a web-based facility that enables the Balik-Manggagawa (BM) or vacationing OFW to apply online for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and have the approved OEC printed by him/her anywhere, anytime. The system aims to expedite the issuance of OEC to vacationing OFWs who will return to their respective foreign employers/ principals. The opening page of the system contains an instructional video that will guide the BM in using the facility.
OFWs on vacation returning to the same employer/principal and jobsite, with employment visa/work permit, have a record in the POEA database, and previously issued OEC/E-Receipt under the same employer/principal may avail of the BM Online Processing System.

On-site, the POLOs conduct verification of overseas employment documents to ensure that the Job Orders are authentic and sufficient, and the terms and conditions of employment in the individual contracts are fair, decent, and just, in accordance with the Philippine Laws, ensuring that labor and social welfare laws in the receiving country are fairly applied to migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos.

For first time OFWs, the POEA is providing the following requirements and steps in order to guide the applicants:

Requirements

·         2 x 2 Picture Passport (valid for at least 6 months)

·         PSA – issued Birth Certificate

·         High School/ College Diploma

·          Transcript of Records

·         Resume/ Curriculum Vitae (CV)

·         Employment Contract/ Job Contract

·         NBI Clearance

·         Marriage Contract/ Certificate (if applicable)

·         PRC ID

·         Certificates (e.g. training certificates etc.)

Steps

1. Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS)

2. Find a recruitment agency.

- Search for legit agencies using POEA’S Website (www.poea.gov.ph)

3. Process the required documents/ requirements

4. Interview and Screening Exams

5. Medical Test and Assessments

6. Employment Contract Training

7. Payment Fees (Placement/ Processing Fees)

8. Pre-Deployment Orientation Seminar (PDOS)

9. Submit Requirements to DMW and other governments agencies

10. Validation and Flight

Once you finalize the requirements and complete the steps required for your application, you may now submit your papers to the DMW to get Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or Authentication of Contract or Acknowledgement of Contract. If you are hired through the recruitments agencies, the agency will help you in processing your papers and they will be the one to submit the papers to DMW.

Be advised to look for agencies that are known and have the proof of legitimacy to avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment.

Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) will be presented at the immigration for proof that you are qualified to go abroad. OEC is only valid for 60 days upon issuance. OFW’s are required to present their OEC every time they exit an airport.

If your OEC expired while your abroad, you can apply through Balik Manggagawa (BM) Online OEC. Any OEC is valid only for a single exit from the Philippines. OFW’s that have an OEC are exempted from paying airport terminal fee and travel tax charges at the airport. This also serves as proof of paid contributions for PHILHEALTH and PAGIBIG etc.

For questions or clarifications, you may contact the ff.:

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW)

Contact no: 8-722-11-44 or 8-722-11-55.

Email : info@poea.gov.ph

Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)

Email: pologreece@yahoo.com.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

Email: greece@owwa.gov.ph.

Contact: (02) 1348

International no.0632-1348.