POEA allows ‘revalidation’ of OFW overseas employment certificates

STRANDED overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) due to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will no longer have to worry about their expired overseas employment certificates (OEC).

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued an Advisory 48-2020 on Wednesday allowing the “revalidation” of their OECS for deployment purposes.

It will cover OFWS, whose OECS have expired during the ECQ.

Under the new issuance, the concerned OFWS would only have to bring the following documents at the Labor Assistance Center in Philippine International Airports on the day of their departure: original copy of expired OEC; copy of employment contract; copy of valid work permit/ visa; and valid passport.

An OEC is a documentary requirement issued by POEA before a Filipino is allowed to work abroad.

“The LAC shall evaluate the documents and validate with the available records if the worker’s employment documents has been processed and approved by POEA,” POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said in Advisory 48-2020.

“Upon verification, the LAC shall stamp the expired OECS ‘CLEARED’ and shall be deemed revalidated,” he added. Grace period

POEA implemented the measure in consideration of the plight of OFWS, who were unable to depart due to the travel restrictions imposed by the Philippines, or their countries of destination because of Covid-19.

Since the ECQ also limited the operations of recruitment and manning agencies, POEA also implemented a temporary extension the validity of their license to operate.

It will apply to those which will have their licenses expiring during the ECQ.

“The validity of the license/branch authority of the aforementioned covered agencies shall be temporarily extended from the date of expiration of the license/branch authority which should be within the covered period of the ECQ, up to a period of 30 calendar day following the lifting of the ECQ order,” Olalia said.

POEA stressed that the extension does guarantee automatic approval of application of the concerned agencies.

It also noted the failure of said companies to meet the 30-day grace period will mean the automatic revocation of their temporary license/ branch authority, or the expiration of their previously granted license/ branch authority.

The ECQ started on March 17, 2020, and supposed to be lifted on April 13, 2020. It was later extended up to April 30, 2020.