Overseas Employment Certificate

An Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), also known as an exit pass or an exit clearance,[2] is an identity document for Filipino migrant workers or Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) departing from the Philippines.[3]

Overseas Employment Certificate
Issued byPhilippines
PurposeVerification of employment
EligibilityFilipino citizenship;
Valid employment from an employer outside the Philippines; Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) membership, PhilHealth premium payment
ExpirationVaries; same as associated employment contract
Cost₱100
RightsExemptions on travel tax, documentary stamp, and airport fee[1]

Background

The Overseas Employment Certificate is a mandatory document for all OFWS, both new hires and returning OFWs, also known as Balik Manggagawa (BM).[4] It has been a requirement since the 1980s.[5]

In the Philippine, it can be obtained through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and other authorized processing centers. BMs can also acquire OECs from Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in their worksite countries.

OEC's are processed on-site and in itself cost ₱100.[6]

Reform

The process for having to acquire an OEC every time an OFW departs from the Philippines has been criticized for being cumbersome as well as the related financial requirements taking a dent on OFWs' income.

Filipino migrant groups have called for the outright abolition of OECs.[5] It is argued that the working visa issued by the destination country and a valid employment contract should be sufficient. The government has insisted that it needs to verify OFWs' employment on its side.[7]

The OFW ID was launched in 2017 as an intended replacement for the OEC[8] but the implementation was stopped by 2018.[9]

In 2023, President Bongbong Marcos directed the Department of Migrant Workers and other relevant agencies to make OEC processing free-of-charge. The OFW Pass, a digital version of the OEC is being developed.[6]

References
  1. "OFWs are exempt from travel tax, documentary stamp, and airport fee, Baldoz reiterates". February 21, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. "Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)/Balik-Manggagawa Assistance". Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Toronto, Canada. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. Hilotin, Jay (July 25, 2022). "Overseas employment certificate (OEC) for Filipino workers: Why President Marcos Jr wants it digitised". Gulf News. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  4. "Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)". Embassy of the Philippines in Berlin. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. "Overseas Filipinos want OEC abolished". Arab News. January 15, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  6. "DMW ordered to make Overseas Employment Certificate free of charge". The Philippine Star. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  7. Naval, Gerard (July 11, 2023). "DMW: Employment contract, passport can't replace OEC". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  8. Hapal, Don Kevin (July 17, 2017). "Lack of guidelines on newly launched OFW ID causes confusion". Rappler. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  9. "Solon: OFW ID supposed to be free but DOLE charging P720". GMA News. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
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