Departing OFWs Will Be The First To Get The OFW ID

The day Rodrigo Roa Duterte took his oath of office as the 16th President of the Philippines, he made it clear that his government will do everything possible to provide comfort and ease to the hundreds of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in processing their documents, as well as during they stay at the airport on departure or arrival from their host countries.

Many of his promises were already being enjoyed by the OFWs. He has removed the Terminal Fee Integration on OFW tickets. The airports have become welcoming again. "Tanim-Bala" is a thing of the past. And a lot of other projects are on their way as well - including the OFW Bank and the OFW Hospital. But perhaps the best among these promises is the the OFW ID.

Introduced as iDole, the OFW ID is the answer to the age old problems of the OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate), a document as important, yet perhaps as hated by the OFWs for the many suffering they have experienced every time the have to get that piece of paper. The OEC served as a proof of the OFW being, what else, an OFW.

“Initially we will be issuing iDOLE to those who are just going out of the country, then as we go on, we will be also issuing to those who are already abroad,” DOLE Undersecretary Dominador Say said.

The government will set up an online application and payment system for the card. “The ID will be issued free to OFWs, but their employers will be required to shoulder the cost,” according to the Undersecretary.   

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will present the ID today, 12th of July, to President Duterte. As soon as the President approves of the design, as well as the guidelines and implementing rules, the production will start before this month ends.

What are the benefits of OFW ID or iDOLE?

1. There's no need to apply for your iDole or OFW ID.
2. All certified OFWs who are listed at the POEA database will receive their very own IDs.
3. The OFW ID is free. There will be no fees to be collected from OFWs.
4. The ID card can be used as a beep card when taking MRT or LRT rides.
5. The card will also serve as a debit or credit card for the OFW Bank that will be opening soon.
6. The OFW ID is a valid and official ID that will be accepted for any government or private transactions. (SSS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig).
7. The ID will be exclusive to OFWs - both current and former. All benefits accompanying are for the OFW alone.
8. The OFW ID will replace the OEC. It does not have to be renewed each time an OFW goes on vacation.
9. In the future, it will serve as an e-passport for OFWs.
10. The iDOLE or OFW ID will be delivered to the address as per advised by the POEA. A list will be published by the POEA, and the embassies and consulates abroad, to which an OFW may revise his or her address.

 Since departing OFWs will be prioritized in the issuance of the iDOLE, they should make sure that their address abroad as registered with the POEA is correct or updated at the POEA website. The POEA will print the OFW ID and it will be delivered to their addresses. If they have the means, OFWs may also claim their ID at the nearest Overseas Labor Office.

An estimated six million OFWs are expected to receive the OFW ID. While the most number of Filipinos are in the US, many of them have taken US Citizenship, which may disqualify them from receiving the IDs. The largest number of OFWs are actually in the Middle East. 


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OEC To Be Abolished- Will Be Replaced By OFW ID

For years the Balik Mangagawa Certificate or OEC has been the portal paper for all the Overseas Filipino workers to pass the immigration. Now after the waiting for it to be abolished, it is almost in the hands of our Bagong Bayani the ease it will cause to them.

    

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bello confirms that OEC will no longer be required for OFWs to complete the process and pass the immigration. This was revealed through his conversation with ASec Mocha Uson. He said, OEC will be abolished, because President Rodrigo Duterte signed the approval of the issuance of I-DOLE, or OFW ID. They will start producing the free OFW ID starting end of July  this year.

Instead the OFW ID or I- DOLE will replace the said document. The OFW identification card can also be used as transaction document for SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig members. They are also studying the options that through this, the OFW ID card would serve as electronic passport.

Lifting of the suspension for the Direct hire was announced also by the Secretary effective today.

Earlier, last February, news regarding the plan and implementation of OFW ID was announced. As promised, Duterte approved the use of OFW ID- which is meant to help OFWs in their government transactions.

Where can we use the OFW ID or I-DOLE

• Serves as ATM card/debit card for OFWs in OFW Bank
•   It could also be used as a beep card for MRT/LRT services.
•  The card can use to easily transact with government and private agencies (e.g. SSS, Philhealth and Pag-Ibig transactions).

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DOLE SEC BELLO Suspends Processing and Issuance of OEC to all Direct-Hired OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered the suspension of processing and issuance of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).

This news was confirmed by DOLE Chief Silvestre H. Bello III, saying it is applied to all directly hired Overseas Filipino Workers. The suspension effects immediately today, April 25, 2017. All pending applications for OEC as of date were covered by the suspension.

Last September 15, 2016, OFWs returning to the same employer or job site will no longer have to secure the required OEC.

This is based on the Governing Board Resolution No. 12, Series of 2016 of DOLE

Earlier the POEA said that the OEC exemption is an experimental basis that covers returning workers who are

1. Returning to the same employer and job site, and listed in the POEA database of OFWs;

2. Hired through POEA’s Government Placement Branch.

In the new development regarding the suspension of processing and issuance of OEC, the DOLE has not yet given further details regarding the news.

We will update this post as soon as new updates will be released.

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SEN. CAYETANO, SUPPORTS CALL FOR THE ABOLITION OF OEC AND TERMINAL FEE

Labor groups who are pushing for the abolition of different fees that burden Overseas Filipino Workers finds favor in the person of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

The senator expressed his support for the abolition of policies that burden the OFWs.


In particular, Cayetano is pushing for the abolition of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and the collection of terminal fees.

READ MORE:

Pres.Duterte urged: Abolish Placement Fees

TAGALOG - OEC, GUIDE TO KNOW AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE EXEMPTED OR NOT.

NO MORE TERMINAL FEE FOR OFWS BY MARCH 2017

STEP BY STEP ON HOW TO CLAIM THE P550 TERMINAL FEE REFUND AT NAIA

Local and overseas job fair schedule of DOLE starting this February 2017

Last week, OFWs in Hong Kong protested against the same policies outside of the Office of the Philippine Consulate General.

They claimed that the procedure introduced by the Department of Labor and Employment for securing the OEC in order to earn a refund of the terminal fee led to a “chaotic system that caused missed flights, long queues, fixers, and unnecessary expenses.”

Cayetano added that by law, migrant workers are exempted from paying the terminal fee. But since it is included in the ticket prices, they still have to line up to get refunds, which at times even caused missed flights.


On the other hand, Garry Martinez of Migrante International called the OEC as "money making scheme of the government hence, urging President Rodrigo Duterte to permanently abolish the OEC.

A study by Migrante International showed that every newly-hired OFW shells out an average of Php30,000 in the processing of documents. This amount ballooned from 2010’s average cost of P18,000 per new contract.

(The long  line for the terminal fee refund at NAIA Terminal 3 - CTO Hong Kong News)

Last month, a labor group was urging President Rodrigo Duterte to abolish all kinds of recruitment fees, being asked from workers who want to work abroad particularly the placement fees.


According to Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK) President Annie E. Geron said that the imposition of recruitment fees has led only to exploitation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

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Dominador Say, undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that talks are underway with Chinese embassy officials on this possibility. China’s five major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will soon be the destination for Filipino domestic workers who are seeking higher income.

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SUSPENSION OF WINDOW CLEANING BAN IN HONG KONG, STARTS OCT 15

The 30 days ban on exterior window cleaning by Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong has been suspended since October 15.

The Philippine consulate has decided to suspend a ban after the Hong Kong government has requested for enough time to work out the details of the issue and to seek a balance between the interest of employers and domestic helpers.

The ban will take effect for 30-days until November 14.

According to the Philippine Consulate, a new contractual clause would be installed in all Filipino Domestic Helpers Contracts stating that cleaning the outside of windows was no longer part of their duties.

(VIDEO:Window cleaning ban suspended)

The Philippines plan to ban window cleaning by domestic helpers arriving in Hong Kong after several helpers plunged to their death while carrying out their dangerous task.

The Indonesian consulate is considering a similar move.

Indonesian consul for manpower and labor Iroh Baroroh said, they are still discussing the issue, but they think that cleaning windows is a job for professionals and not for domestic workers.

There are 320,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong and half of them are from the Philippines while the other half are from Indonesia.

The ban was initially announced by Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Hong Kong last October 1 after the series of accidents involving domestic helpers OFW.

(VIDEO:Pinay domestic helper falls to death in Hong Kong)

Last August, a 35-year old Filipina domestic helper feel to her death in Tseung Kwan O.

According to the report, she was cleaning windows in the flat of her employer when the accident happened.

She is the fifth domestic workers died in the city from work accident or suicide since January.

Singapore has already put the same strict restriction on window cleaning by maids in 2012 after similar accidents. Maids in Singapore are only allowed to clean the outside of window if an adult employer is present, and if the windows have grills that are locked during the process.

Meanwhile, POLO has fast-tracked the OEC exemption for OFWs.

All vacationing OFWs need a Temporary OEC Exemption Slip to be able to past immigration at Philippine airport and return to his employer.

Its serves as proof the status of returning OFWs.

But instead of queuing up for hours to access a computer at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POEA) which they are required to use previously to create an account online. It is now simplified.

What they need is just secure the slip, which comes with a reference number and they are good to go.

With this, an OFW can create an account with Balik Manggagawa Online (BMO) system using reference number provided on the exemption slip.

OFW can do this, anytime - anywhere. It means, OFW no need to use POLO's computer to create a BMO account or pay the $20 fee.

(VIDEO:Paglilinaw ni Labatt Dela Torre tungkol sa pagtanggal ng OEC)

Nearly all OFWs in Hong Kong are now exempt from getting OEC.

Aside from OFWs who are returning to their employers under an existing contract, OFWs who have been terminated will be able to avail OEC exemption slip if they have manage to get new employment contract.

Under POEA Resolution No. 12 issued on August 4, all OFWs returning to the same employer at the same work site were exempted from securing the OEC, provided that they had previously registered their work and personal details with BMO.

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FORMER SENATORIAL CANDIDATE GRECO BELGICA IS ASKING TO ABOLISH OEC

 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?

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.

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?