Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may now process their Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) lifted its suspension.
In a Labor Advisory No. 16 series of 2017 issued on Monday, December 4, secretary Silvestre Bello said that the 15-working day suspension of OEC acceptance and processing is now over and that there will be no extension.
Bello suspended the OEC processing effective November 13, via Department Order No. 185 issued on November 09, 2017, due to reported anomalies involving some people at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
“We are taking this important action in view of the persistent reports of illegal recruitment activities including direct hires, and in order to protect the public from the pernicious activities of certain unscrupulous individuals preying on our OFWs,” Bello said.
All OFWs, including direct hires are covered by the order. However, those workers who are being hired by international organizations, members of diplomatic corps, which includes members of royal families, and sea-based recruitment agencies, are excluded from the suspension.
Even though the ban is now lifted, Bello assures that “the fact finding team will carry on with its work at the POEA to uncover the culpable parties who are responsible for the illegal recruitment activities which have victimized several of our applicants for overseas employment.”
Here’s the signed advisory giving a go to OEC processing:
POEA is the agency that implements the order, for compliance by all land-based private recruitment agencies.
Please share this post to all OFWs who may have to process their OECs. (Source: POEA)
