OEC - Hoping to rationalise
The Overseas Employment Certificate is one of controversial topics or cumbersome process for anyone hoping to work overseas. It is a blanket process that does not distinguish how an individual got the job or what the person’s profession is. I have worked in several countries and OEC didn’t make any difference. I have availed it and legally skipped it on several occasions. My worst experience was we lost 500K PHP worth of income due to the red tape (waiting time, irrational policies, etc.) in POEA Ortigas. This happened a decade ago. It is painful to read lost opportunities and income because of a piece of paper which does not even exist in other countries. It is not required for the visa application.
There have been several discussions here and I also shared this study published by IOM. Like any youngster, I was once idealistic and hopeful that things eventually get better. I made conscious legal decisions and took things into my hands where necessary based on my negative experiences with OEC. My argument is I that found a job online, passed the interviews, and got the job offer from a very reputable company (e.g. FAANG, Big 4, Govt hospital, etc.) I did not go through any recruitment agency in PH. I applied for a visa which required medical examination, police checks, etc. After all those destination-country stringent checks and processes, I finally got my visa and they will allow me to live and work in that country. However, I need an OEC if my origin country is in PH. This is where it all starts to fall apart. I signed a contract and the PH govt wants an addendum that I found ridiculous and my employer too like shouldering transportation, accommodation, and other clauses. As part of the requirements, they require identification documents from the employer too. Why does one need to pay some random agency to process it? To lend their name? That’s BS.
This might be a long shot but I will give it a try. I am nobody, but I am hoping that someone with common sense can hear us out and rationalise this archaic requirement and process. I understand the history and pros of it for other segments of OFWs. However, it is 2026 and it should have had evolved. I would prefer to have a risk-based, online, and data-driven system.
Does anyone know how we can influence the old laws and implementing rules and regulations? Is there a change champion in PH that we can reach out to or already in the process of changing this? Aspiring OFWs do not deserve their dreams shattered. Philippines passed a law that directly bans hiring Filipinos many years ago. Now, some companies do not even want to directly hire Filipinos at all.