NEWS RELEASE May 07, 2011 Philippine Consulate General Philippine Overseas Labor Office Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration Dubai & Northern Emirates, United Arab Emirates

OEC REQUIREMENT FOR VACATIONING OFWs

The Labor Office of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai reminds Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs), who are vacationing in the Philippines and returning to the same employer in the UAE, to secure a POEA travel exit clearance in order to be allowed to leave the Philippines. This advisory is issued amidst reports that a number of OFWs going back to the UAE experienced problems at the Philippine Airport during the exit procedures, with some being offloaded when they failed to present their employment contract verified by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. Philippine Labor Attach Amilbahar B. Amilasan reiterates that the POEA travel exit clearance or Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), is part of the registration of workers-on-leave (i.e. entering in the official records of POEA) prescribed by Section 5, Rule III, Part III of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Workers. Aside from the OEC, departing OFWs must also present valid original passport and valid residence visa or work permit at the Philippine Airport Immigration. Those vacationing OFWs who initially left the Philippines with visit visa, therefore undocumented (i.e. no record in POEA), and later gained employment in the UAE may be required to present other documents to the Philippine Airport Immigration, such as POLOverified employment contract, labor card, company license and a letter from the HR Department attesting to the employment of the OFW. The demand for other supporting documents is warranted by Republic Act 8042 (The Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995), as amended by Republic Act 10022 which requires OFWs to be documented. It should also be appreciated in line with the efforts of the Philippine government to curb trafficking in persons pursuant to RA 9208 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 The OEC, which has a validity of 60 days, can be obtained from POEAs Head Office, regional centers, satellite units, and deputized OWWA offices, as well as Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in various Philippines Embassies and Consulates. POEA has already opened its OneWay Delivery System (Dropbox) at the Balik-Manggagawa Processing Division in POEA, and On-Line Application (www.oecdelivery.com.ph) as convenient and time-saving ways for OEC issuance.

OFWs in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who prefer to get the OEC from POLO-OWWA in Al Wuheida, Deira must meet the following requirements: 1. Personal appearance of OFW-applicant; 2. Original passport and stamped visa; 3. Accomplished information sheet (available in POLO-OWWA and from the website: www.polo-owwadubai.net); 4. PAG-IBIG Membership for a minimum of AED10.00 (mandatory coverage per RA 9679 or the Home Development Mutual Fund Law which took effect on 27 August 2009); 5. OWWA Membership for AED92.00 (payment valid per contract duration at a maximum of 2 years); 6. OEC Processing fee of AED10.00; 7. For Household Service Workers, in addition to the above: - Immigration Contract stating a monthly salary of at least US$400 (the Philippine minimum requirement) or its equivalent of AED 1,500, to be verified by POLO for AED40.00. This will also be presented at the Philippine Airport Immigration - Undertaking and Information Sheet signed by the Sponsor (available from the website) - Copy of the sponsors passport and residence visa Labor Attach Amilasan also informs OFWs that the POEA has restored the validation of the exit clearance at the Labor Assistance Counter (LAC) in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals starting March 1, 2011. The OEC serves as exit pass, as an exemption certificate from payment of travel tax and airport terminal fee, and as a workers guarantee that he is covered by government protection and benefits.

For your concerns , visit our OWWA office http://www.polo-owwadubai.net