POEA now requires returning OFWs to Thailand show employment contract; selective exemptions granted for Libya deployment

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—While Filipino workers abroad who are returning to the country may no longer wait in long queues for their overseas employment certificates (OECs) with the government's Balik-Manggagawa Online Appointment System, the Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Desk Office at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol said that returning OFWs to Thailand and Libya are now required to show proof of employment contract before they can be issued an exit permit.

This came in the wake of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) May 23 advisory on partial deployment ban on newly-hired in Thailand, where martial law was declared by the Thai military. Though a total deployment ban in Libya advisory was issued on May 30, 2014, the POEA has issued another advisory on June 13, 2014 allowing certain skills category to be allowed to return to the war-torn country.

The exemptions for deployment to Libya as contained in the POEA Governing Board Resolution 09-2014 are: workers employed by diplomats, foreign embassies, missions, and international organizations in Libya; OFWs working in oil rigs platform provided that they will not pass through or spend their vacation in mainland Libya; those working for multinational companies, government hospitals and schools as well as for the Libyan National Oil Company; and Filipinos who are married to Libyan nationals.

For the second and third exemptions though, OFWs are required to present POLO-verified employer contingency plan for the evacuation and repatriation of the workers; and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-verified employer undertaking guaranteeing the safety of the workers during their stay on Libya, and readiness to immediately repatriate as circumstances may require and at no cost to the worker and the undertaking shall clearly state the exact location of the work site.

The exemption, the POEA added, may be withdrawn when the situation calls for it.

Earlier, Labor Usec. and acting POEA governing board chair Rebecca Chato said in a resolution that they issued the partial deployment ban in compliance to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) security alert level 2 or restriction phase in Thailand.

Every Tuesday on the second and last week of the month, representatives from the POEA, Overseas Workers Welfare Association, Department of Labor and Employment, Pag-ibig, Social Security System, National Bureau of Investigation and other concerned government agencies convene at the provincial Capitol auditorium to serve OFWs through a one-stop shop Kabayanihan Program initiated by the Marcos administration.

With the latest advisory from the POEA, Dolores Cortez, Ilocos Norte OFW desk officer said that returning OFWs to Libya and Thailand are now required to show additional requirements such as their employment contract, passport and visa in order to secure an OEC.

The exit permit or OEC must be shown at the Bureau of Immigration before leaving the country.

Meanwhile, the Balik-Manggagawa (BM) Online Appointment System of the POEA now makes transactions more convenient for vacationing OFWs who are returning to the same employers.

With the initiative, vacationing overseas Filipino workers can set an appointment with the POEA for the processing of their OECs online.

With an operational BM online, OFWs returning to the same employer can log on to the POEA website where they can fill out forms and submit the document for processing.

The POEA said that if the name of the employer indicated in the form matches the name of the employer in the POEA database, the system will readily approve the returning OFW’s “new record”.

The returning OFW only needs to pay the fees electronically and print out the OEC either at the comforts of their homes or wherever they are conducting the online transaction.

The OEC print out containing a bar code shall be presented to the immigration officer at the airport before departure.