POEA exempts OFWs returning to employer from getting OEC

POEA resolution

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has approved a resolution exempting on a “pilot project basis” returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from getting overseas employment certificates (OECs) when they go back to the Philippines.

Under a resolution dated Aug. 5, the board exempted OFWs who are returning to the same employer or job site and have existing records with the POEA and those hired through the Government Placement Branch.

But to get an exemption, the OFW should be a registered member of the POEA’s Balik-Manggagawa (BM) online system.

“The worker has to register in the system…to validate if she/he is exempted from obtaining the OEC. Her/his updated profile shall be stored in the POEA database and electronically transmitted to the Bureau of Immigration to serve as reference of the Immigration officer in validating the exemption of the worker during her/his departure,” the resolution said.

“There will be no processing fee when the worker avails of this clearance,” it added.

The POEA said OFWs who are not exempted during the time of registration will be directed to the BM online web page so that they could get an appointment with a POEA officer and get registered.

“Those who will go directly to the (Bureau of Immigration) counter at the airport without appropriate registration will be referred by the Immigration officer concerned to the Labor Assistance Counter for evaluation to determine if the worker may be cleared for departure or be subjected to further evaluation/completion of documents,” the POEA said.

It added that the BM worker would also be exempt from paying the travel tax and terminal fee upon the presentation of the valid work visa/work permit/valid employment contract/valid company ID/recent payroll slip or other equivalent document.

The POEA will issue the implementing rules and guidelines for the new policy, which takes effect in the first week of September.