Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is a piece of document that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) need to present to the Immigration Department upon leaving the Philippines for work abroad.
The main purpose of OEC is to provide proof that as OFWs, they are exempted from paying travel taxes and terminal fees. Once they present this document, along with their passports, OFWs are cleared to bypass the collecting agents located inside the terminal building across international airports in the Philippines.
OECs can be filed at consulates and embassies of the Philippines located abroad, as well as POEA offices in the Philippines. While the cost may be minimal, many OFWs argue that it’s not just about the money and the time spent, but more on its practical use.
Table of Contents
Why Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) requirements must be abolished
It’s costly
The title may be a bit too much if the cost per copy of OEC is an affordable P100. But to ordinary OFWs who haggle for better exchange rates so they can send more money back home, this amount (or equivalent foreign equivalent), is too much. Not to mention the cost of transportation, food and effort just to fall in line and get this document.
It’s time consuming
Obtaining OEC or exit pass can be long especially on places where concentration of OFWs is high. Therefore it can be a considerable amount of time to get this form sorted out. And since time is also money, don’t we think it’s sometimes more practical not to get OEC to avoid costs and risk to physical health and inconvenience at work?
It’s not practical
Paying a fee for a document that exempts one from paying a fee sounds redundant and impractical. If you add the hourly rate at work queuing, paying for transport or even taking a leave from work, may even be higher than the airport terminal fees and travel taxes combined. But OFWs are forced to comply, because failure to present an OEC to an immigration officer could get them at risk of offloading.
There are other ways we can prove ourselves as OFWs
If the main reason of OEC is to prove that Filipinos are certified working abroad, OEC is not the only document that will solve this issue. OFWs can show their job contract certified as valid by the embassy, visa on their passports or IDs / residence permits of their country of employment. OEC just complicates the matter and has become a big nuisance to many Filipinos abroad.
It adds workload to consular staff
Staff who are supposed to attend to more important tasks — assist distressed OFWs, follow up labor violations, and others — are forced to sit and issue these OECs, thereby making them unavailable to assist Filipinos who seek other forms of help.
We have been notified previously that OEC will be abolished. But until now, or at least in 2014 forever (see Twitter feed below), OEC is here to stay.
Update:
POEA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac confirms that they are working on a system that will store OFW information in a database. Expected to be ready by 2014, it will eliminate the need for OECs.
@pinoy_ofw We are working on a system where an ofw in our database with updated owwa etc won’t need an oec. Give us till 1st half of 2014.
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) August 30, 2013
@mestreller @pinoy_ofw The OEC stands as proof that one is a documented OFW. Heto ho muna ang sistema natin and we ask for your patience.
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) August 30, 2013
@mestreller @hansleocacdac @pinoy_ofw I suggest availment of our appointment system at http://t.co/My0n4KjmUg pic.twitter.com/OTKfNAczDZ
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) August 30, 2013
@mestreller @hansleocacdac @pinoy_ofw I suggest availment of our appointment system at http://t.co/My0n4KjmUg pic.twitter.com/OTKfNAczDZ
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) August 30, 2013
Update: June 29, 2014
POEA’s Mr Hans Leo Cacdac gave an update on Twitter:
@MarilyndelaVega @vicpao22 @remico2 @pinoy_ofw Abangan lang po, we shall soft launch this July …
— hans leo j. cacdac (@HansLeoCacdac) June 29, 2014
ANG OEC AY PAMEMERA LNG SA OFW YAN PERWISYO AT KAUNGASAN NG GOBYERNO BULOK NMAN ANG SERBISYO SUMASAHOD KAYO SA PERA NG OFW PERO ANG AARTE NYO SA POEA, BULOK NMAN SERBISYO NYO.
2015 n nga eh ang nabago lng now by online at can choose the day want to go to embassy, pero ganun p rin fee plus fare plus sobrang inet lao sa uae.
1 yr has passed, and OEC still in effect???? why it takes so long?
Hindi yan nakakatulong sa OFW…ibat ibang pangalan pero fees,singil,bayad etc.Para kayong mga bata..di kayo kikilos ng walang pabuya!Di ba pwedeng NGO’s or private companies na lang mag serve sa amin?Baka makatikim kami ng ginhawa at maayos na services dahil pareho lang..nagbabayad din kami.
Sana nga alisin na ang oec, napalakaing perwisyu! Its also a form of corruption
Hi sir good day..noong octber 3.2014.umalis po ako..papuntang saudi riyadh..may hawak na po ako oec..dala ko sya ..kong uuwi po ako sa sunod taon..need pa ba ng oec…
alam nyo po abala lang yan mag OFW na katulad namin nagbabakasyon ng 30 days tapos babawasan pa ng isang araw dahil sa paglalakad ng documento na hindi naman dapat kailangan instead ang araw na yon ay para pa sa pamilya namin dahil isa o dalawang taon kami bago umuwi..
“We are working on a system where an ofw in our database with updated owwa etc won’t need an oec. Give us till 1st half of 2014.” – 12:06 PM – 30 Aug2013 Wala tayong maaasahan dito, drawing lang.
“We are working on a system where an ofw in our database with updated owwa etc won’t need an oec. Give us till 1st half of 2014.” – 12:06 PM – 30 Aug2013 Wala tayong maaasahan dito, drawing lang.
dapat lang tanggalin!
Oo nga ano ang binipisyo sa amin ng certificate na yan di ba perwisyo nasa tuwid tayo n baluktot sa dulo ay Gobyerno talaga piro pirwisyo at pira
I hope sa pag uwi ko ng December wala na yang OEC, apply ka nga sa online ang dami daming tanong kung yung oras na ipapahinga mo na lang dahil sa buong araw na pagod.. Tas ilalaan pa sa walang kwentang OEC.. May permit ka naman na ipapakita sa immigration kung ano ano pa Hinahanap. Tskkkk pag naaalala ko yung hirap sa Pila, gutom, at tagal tskkkk.. Nakaka walang gana Puro corrupt naman…
Dapat lang talaga tanggalin na yang OEC na yan..aksaya sa oras para sa pamilya mo na samantala ilang araw o isang buwan lang pamamalagi sa piling ng pamilya mo tas kukunin pa ang isang araw ng dahil lang sa OEC na yan..kong labalik ka na at nakalimutan mong kumuha ng OEC ng dahil sobrang nagpakalunod ka sa saya sa pamilya mo..anak ka ng pating iiwan at maiiwan ka talaga ng eroplano dahil kukuha ka pa lng ng OEC mo..really really nangyari na sa akin yan ng dalawang beses…
Simple reason… that’s how they make easy money.. corruption will never end in our beloved country. 🙁
No need na OEC
Dapat lang n tanggalin n ang OEC kasi makikita naman sa passport yong working visa mo n kaw ay OFW kasi nakakaisturbo din po yan s work. Pipila k p ng paghaba haba malilipasan kp ng gutom.
Mas malaki pa nagagastos para sa pamasahi sa taxi, sana nga ay alisin na ang OEC…..
bawas curruption den yan”’eh d WOW””
Why not send it on line?
Dapat lang taggalin yan mag online punta kapa embassy pamasahi mag offday kalang o mc para lang makakuha ng oec.. Ai nko pamasahi pa at oras sa pag aantay…
sana sunod na pangulo ng pilipinas mawawa na yan
Ako walang problema kung may bayad ang OEC dahil tulong natin sa pilipinas hindi sa mandurugas. Sana naman wag ng pahirapan ang OFW sa pagkuha nito. Sa meaning lng ng OEC walang na dyan yung OWWA/POEA, the documents of being a legitimate member as an OFW (i.e. every 2 yrs OFW renewing – OWWA membeship) was enough evidence.
Mahiya naman ……….
ako ok lng mg bayad pero sana ang bansa natin ayusin nila pammalakad .kawawa ang mga kaso ng rape.pinatay..parang mga bulag at pipi bingi ang mga nmumuno s bansa natin…bakit d nlulutas ang mga ganitong kaso.promote nga kau ng promote n msganda ang pilipinas..wala nmang turista n gustong pumunta.kasi takot sila mmatay.at pg nkawan.sabi ng amo kung bharini kaya sila plagi s thailand.kasi kahit mg lakad k ng hating gabi.ssfe k…wake bansang pilipinas..sno n ng yari s pilipinas…mga nkaupo s gobyerno..mga mkasarili.wslang pg mmahal s bayan ang mahalaga lng sainyo yumaman kau..s pg nnakaw..mg bbayad din kau s diyos.
Sana itong pag uwi this coming sept wàla sana iyan OEC nayan kc abala lang eh uuwi ng probinsya magmamadali kang bumalik para lang Jan . sana nga matangal nayan kawawa naman kaming mga OFW .
Alisin na yang oec na yan at palitan ng coc
Oo nga…paying a fee for a document thats exempts you from paying a fee? I smell something fishy…
Oo nga…paying a fee for a document thats exempts you from paying a fee? I smell something fishy…
ang OEC ang sangkalan ng ahensya para makasingil pa sa OFW ng OWWA contributions,PHIL HEALTH MANDATORY COVERAGE PAYMENT,PAG IBIG CONTRIBUTIONS AT KUNG ANO ANO PA,kaya hindi natin masasabi na mura lang naman ang ibinabayad natin sa OEC.
As an accountant of a travel agency holding a part of job in reporting to IATA hindi ko ma submit sa IATA ang reporting ko pag walang attachment na OEC kaya bago e ticket ang pasahero kailangan may OEC muna ibigay sa mag issue ng ticket otherwise ma ADM ang travel agency
As an accountant of a travel agency holding a part of job in reporting to IATA hindi ko ma submit sa IATA ang reporting ko pag walang attachment na OEC kaya bago e ticket ang pasahero kailangan may OEC muna ibigay sa mag issue ng ticket otherwise ma ADM ang travel agency
I was off loaded back in 2013 because poea in terminal 1 dont issue me a fucking oec so i rebooked my ticket that cost me 4500 just because pf that oec soi went to poea main just to get oec with all my luggage and stuff.
I was off loaded back in 2013 because poea in terminal 1 dont issue me a fucking oec so i rebooked my ticket that cost me 4500 just because pf that oec soi went to poea main just to get oec with all my luggage and stuff.
Mas mahal pa nga ata ang OEC kesa sa terminal fee… pwedi nmn tanggalin na yan then huwag narin kami magbayad ng terminal fee, kasi dami nmn ng contribution ng mga ofw….
Proof as OfW? Use OWWA membership yan ang patunay dagdag gastos lang yan OEc at abala. Saka meron na ring emirates Id na pwedeng ipakita kc ang EId nakalinked sa employment contract yan.
Like I said, para san ung OEC? Pinas lang ata may exit pass sa buong mundo.
Di ba pwedeng ung Valid Working Visa nalang tingnan nila as an OFW balik manggagawa para ma abolished na ang OEC.
Sa pagkuha ng OEC..ang haba ng pila sa POEA main…at during departure ang haba naman ng pila sa airport OFW lounge for verification…OMG
Ok lang man yan OEC na yarn pero bakit di na lang yan gaya .sa OWWA na kong ilang taon contract mo ganon na din lang man ang validity .ng OEC na yan .at the same time ausin nila langang validity serbisyo saming mega OFW di yong akala mo sino na sila na kong makasigaw sa mga ngtatanong wagas na baka nakalimutan nila na kasama tau sa ngpapasweldo kanila .
Hahaha 2015 na pala ngayun?
Hahaha 2015 na pala ngayun?
tayo lang ang may OEC, i am working here in UAE for the last 15 years yung ibang mga lahi partikular yung mga taga INDIA, SRI LANKA, JORDAN, ETHIOPIA, BANGLADESH, NEPAL, PAKISTAN at marami pang iba ay WALA naman sila ng katulad na SCHEME ng Pinas…sabi nila it just plain BULLSHIT.
Wahhhh Sbi last year Wala na 2015 August na Meron ps din!!
Waste of time. Ang aarte pa ng taga embassy, hanggang 200 applicants lang a day dito sa Dubai, kahit 6:30am nandon kana sabihan ka lang wala ng number. Waste of time talaga, late kana sa work wala pang kwenta ang oras mo. Payment is not a problem masyado pero sana make our life easy naman pagod na nga kami sa work
Ngaun po n 2015 n po anu n po balita sa OEC dn po ba kailangan,,,,,Kagaya ko po hawak ko po carta soggiorno ibig po sabihin ung permit to stay ko po wala ng expiration,,,Kung uuwi po AKO mkakabalik p po b Ako Khit wala po Ako work now dito
Walang kwenta ang OEC na yan. Dagdag abala lang yan. Wala naman nagagawa yan. Yung Tita ko nga nagka sakit at namatay (cardiac arrest) sa Lebanon, kundi pa pinagamot ng amo, nga nga sya. Sinagot lahat ng amo nya hospital expenses. 1 month din sya naconfine. Binawian din sya ng buhay. Gastos lahat ng amo hanggang paguwi ng bangkay. Binigyan pa ng pera pampaaral yung pamilya ng Tita ko. Wala man lang nakuha sa Owwa! Nga nga lang! Buti na lang mabait amo nya.
Isa pa ang NBI, PALAGI NA LANG MAY HITS
May OFW CARD naman, ano kaya saysay ng card!
Ano nang update sa pag abolished nang OEC, muntik NA kaming marikit a nang lagay. System dahil sa kaka Pila?
Sa dinami dami ng sinabi mo na puro pagkakagastusan din naman at nde solusyon naisip mo na i online na lang sana? Ano mas mabilis kung sakali? Log on sa OWWA tapos print ang katunayan, walang pamasahe nde lumabas ng bahay leche magisip ka nga din! Isa ka pang maraming nararamdaman na parang araw araw kang lumalabas sa gate ng NAIA3!
Sa dinami dami ng sinabi mo na puro pagkakagastusan din naman at nde solusyon naisip mo na i online na lang sana? Ano mas mabilis kung sakali? Log on sa OWWA tapos print ang katunayan, walang pamasahe nde lumabas ng bahay leche magisip ka nga din! Isa ka pang maraming nararamdaman na parang araw araw kang lumalabas sa gate ng NAIA3!
Hoy! Tapos na 1st half ng 2015!!!!
Kaya pag umuwi ako ev panay 4 days lang kasi hassle yang OEC eh! Kami sa Singapore merong employment pass, dapat yun papang proof na eh. Kung hindi man, eh dapat may choice kang magbayad ng airport tax and terminal fee nalang kung may proof of employment naman.
2 taon na itong tweet, 2016 na wala pa ring nangyayari.