Greco Belgica,a senatorial candidate under President Rodrigo Duterte's slate last election,proposed that the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is useless and needs to be abolished.
What is an OEC?
Who are required to get an OEC?
-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.
-OFWs who have partially served their present employer.
-Undocumented OFWs (tourists, dependents, students, businessman) who became OFWs and have partially served the same employer.
An Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a requirement under POEA rules and regulations to help ensure that Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) are properly documented and protected. Only OFWs are required to get an OEC.
Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a clearance issued to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), known as Balik-Manggagawa (BM) who exit from the Philippines for employment purpose.
Pursuant to Section 35, Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act 1995 (Republic Act 8042), OFWs shall be exempted from the payment of travel tax and airport terminal fee upon presentation of the OEC exit clearance which shall serve as:
-Travel exit pass for OFWs at the airports
-An exemption certificate from payment of Travel Tax and airport terminal fee upon presentation to the airline counter and airport terminal fee counter
-Worker’s guarantee that he/she is covered by government protection and benefits;
Who are required to get an OEC?
-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.
-OFWs who have partially served their present employer.
-Undocumented OFWs (tourists, dependents, students, businessman) who became OFWs and have partially served the same employer.
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The OEC collection goes to POEA funds and we do not really know if the OFWs are really getting the benefits in any way.
All we know is that we cannot work overseas,even if we have the tickets and the visa without being issued this OEC.
If we have the OEC,the holder is exempted from paying the terminal fee at the airport.
The OEC collection goes to POEA funds and we do not really know if the OFWs are really getting the benefits in any way.
All we know is that we cannot work overseas,even if we have the tickets and the visa without being issued this OEC.
If we have the OEC,the holder is exempted from paying the terminal fee at the airport.
But then,another burden is being added to the OFWs because if you bought your ticket online or abroad,you are still required to pay the Php550 terminal fee,which can be later refunded at the airport.
Additional hassle,additional queues and additional waste of time.
So what good is the OEC for?
So what good is the OEC for?