HIRING FILIPINO WORKERS

LEGALLY HIRING FILIPINOS TO WORK ABROAD

THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Over the years, the Philippines has deployed more than eleven million Filipino workers in 190 destinations in various fields – professional, medical, technical, operations and maintenance, construction, hotel and seafaring sectors.

The recruitment of Filipino workers is done through a systematic recruitment network where foreign principals must course their manpower requirements through DMW-licensed private employment and manning agencies. The Philippine – licensed agency may advertise the job vacancies in local dailies, create a manpower pool, and conduct preliminary screening and interviews of applicants as part of its services for its foreign principal.

Private employment agencies are either:

Land-based agencies, which could be any person (natural or juridical) licensed by the DMW to recruit workers for all land-based jobs for and in behalf of its foreign principal; or

Manning agencies, which could be any person (natural or juridical) licensed by the DMW to recruit seafarers to man/board vessels plying international sea lanes and other related maritime activities.

These licensed employment agencies ensure that only Filipino workers are qualified and medically-fit are deployed. Hence, Filipino workers are medically examined by government-accredited medical clinics or hospitals and trade-tested or trained by training centers authorized by the government.

HOW TO HIRE FILIPINO WORKERS

1.    A prospective employer interested to hire Filipino employees may choose from the official list of licensed private employment agencies (land-based and sea-based) available at the DMW website, www.dmw.gov.ph. This list includes DMW agencies that are Excellence and Top Performer awardees. These agencies have been conferred these awards in recognition of their outstanding and exemplary performance in the field of overseas employment and for their vital role in uplifting the quality of life of millions of Filipinos by providing them gainful overseas employment.

2.    The employer shall undergo the DMW  accreditation process where the local agent submits to the DMW the following, as well the visa or equivalent documents.

a.    Special Power of Attorney or Service/Recruitment Agreement;

b.    Master Employment Contract with the minimum contract provisions;

c.    Manpower Request.

3.    The employer must execute an employment contract with the Filipino employee which must be acknowledged by the Philippine Embassy. The application form and requirements for the acknowledgment is available at the consular section or may be downloaded from the Embassy website.

In Russia, the requirements included a working visa or invitation for working visa and approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Development.

EXPENSES FOR HIRING FILIPINO WORKERS

Private land-based recruitment agencies charge service fees from the employers/principals as payment for services rendered in the recruitment and placement of workers. The employers also pay the cost of:

POEA processing, PhP200.00

Worker membership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA),

US$25.00

Visa Fee

Private land-based recruitment agencies are allowed to collect from its selected/hired workers a placement fee equivalent to one (1) month salary, except in countries where laws prohibit collection of fees from workers.

POEA EXIT CLEARANCE FOR OFWS

The exit clearance come in the form of an E-Receipt (electronic receipt) or an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) certifying to the regularity of a workers recruitment and documentation and ensures exemption from travel tax and airport terminal fee.  It is presented at the POEA Labor Assistance Center (LAC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) counter at the airports, prior to departure.

The E-Receipt or OEC serves as the worker’s guarantee that he/she is covered by government protection and benefits.

For inquiries or additional information:

Write:           The Administrator

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

3/F Blas F. Ople Building

EDSA cor. Ortigas Avenue

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(632) 722-1162; (632) 726-8965

[email protected]

Visit: www.dmw.gov.ph