ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL FILIPINOS IN GUANGDONG
MARCH 15, 2024
The Foreign Stakeholders Relations and Engagement Bureau (FSREB) under the Policy and International Cooperation Cluster, held a Focus Group Discussion on March15, 2024, Friday, 2:00PM (PH, Manila time). It was lead by Mr. Jun Aguilar, DMW FSREB and has been attended by Mr. Jay Ramindas, PCG Vice Consul, officers of ATN and the Consular Office, Macau Labor Attache Ms. Marniel. I, Mike Magnaye attended the meeting together with Guangzhou and Shenzhen Filcom leaders.
This is to formally address issues and concerns raised by the OFWs in Guangzhou, China, as follows:
1. Difficulty in securing Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) for every travel to the Philippines;
2. Clarification on the OFW Pass;
3. Denied access of OFWs in Mainland China to the verification services of MWOs in Hong Kong and Macau;
4. Clarification if PhilHealth contribution is a requirement for OEC/OFW Pass issuance; and other matters
Minutes of the meeting:
- Those having difficulty in securing Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) for every travel to the Philippines, they are encouraged to use the online platform, Balik Manggagawa. POEAOnlineServices (dmw.gov.ph). For first time users, a requirement checklist will be released by Guangzhou PCG.
- China has no Migrant Workers Office (MWO). Temporarily, PCG can help authenticate documents. Hongkong and Macau cannot issue paper OECs due to issue of jurisdiction with China since the establishment of DMW.
- The online web portal https://onlineservices.dmw.gov.ph by DMW is where all official documents such as authenticated contracts and passports are to be uploaded.
- For contracts, an apostille document (certified by Guangdong Foreign Affairs office) does not need authentication by Guangzhou PCG. You can use this for applying Balik Manggagawa account provided it is translated to English.
- Philhealth is not mandatory for securing OEC. If you want to be a member of Philhealth, there is a temporary ruling by DMW that we can pay only 2400 pesos per year fixed rate for all salary brackets.
This is not an official document. For clarifications, kindly email at fsreb@dmw.gov.ph_and jun.aquilar@dmw.qov.ph.