Philippines simplifies paperwork for OFWs

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) globally will soon be spared the task of obtaining Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) with the introduction of a new identification card, the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Doha has said.Set to be launched on July 12, the iDOLE (issued by the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment) will replace the OEC, which has been the subject of complaints of OFWs when taking their vacations and returning back to work, it is learnt.“This is a welcome news not only for our OFWs who will no longer need to queue up at government offices in Manila or at POLO offices when they go on vacation, but also for the working men and women of POLO,” labour attache David Des Dicang told Gulf Times.POLO in Qatar alone accepts nearly 100 applications for OECs and receives some 100 requests for processing requirements (for example, verification of individual employment contracts) every day prior to the issuance of an OEC.Dicang stressed that such work load does not include the numerous inquiries by e-mail, social media and telephone calls on how to get an OEC.“Our staff can now focus on more important work at hand. We will have more time and personnel to help our kabayans (compatriots) in addressing their welfare and employment-related concerns,” Dicang said.“We will now have more time to complete substantial reports.”Once the initiative rolls out, POLO can focus on more important and employment-related matters of OFWs such verifying required documents submitted by companies or employers.“We may also have a freer schedule now and better opportunities in personally co-ordinating with authorities (such as Qatar’s Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, among others) instead of being bogged down by the menial task of processing the paper work that comes with the issuance of the OEC,” the labour attache added.It is learnt that iDOLE will serve as a unified ID for OFWs’ Social Security System, PhilHealth and Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-Ibig) memberships.However, Dicang said they still await the new ID’s official guidelines from DOLE in Manila.Filipino expatriates who transfer from one company to another, those who moved from one country to another, and those who were locally hired while on a visit (or family) visa hope to be covered by the iDOLE.In August last year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration abolished the OEC after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a directive to ease its process for both returning and newly-hired OFWs.“The iDOLE is the best gift of our president to OFWs,” labour secretary Silvestre Bello III said in recent reports.Speaking to Gulf Times, United Filipino Organisations in Qatar chairman Ressie Fos echoed the statement of Dicang saying that iDOLE is a welcome development for OFWs, especially those who take their vacations regularly.“OEC is a big hassle to all of us because its only purpose is to serve as a proof that we are OFWs, which exempt us from travel tax and airport terminal fee. An ID is enough,” he pointed out.The Duterte administration is also set to launch an ‘OFW Bank’ in October this year, which form’s part of his election campaign promises to Filipino expatriates.