POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 18

: The main purpose is to provide guidelines for the implementation of the mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) for disadvantaged workers, to be administered by qualified NGOs with partnerships with POEA.
: Disadvantaged workers, specifically male and female household workers and related service sector workers bound for Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia for the first time, are required to attend the mandatory PDOS.
: Qualified non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have Covenants of Partnership with POEA and are admitted for the purpose are authorized to administer the PDOS.
: Licensed agencies must secure PDOS referral slips from POEA for their workers, ensure the workers observe the PDOS schedule, and bear the cost of the PDOS which is payable to the NGOs administering the seminar.
: The cost should not be more than thirty pesos (P30.00) per worker.
: The cost of PDOS shall be borne by the referring agency/entity but should be part of the placement fee paid by the worker to the agency.
: No, the policy strictly enjoins NGOs not to accept OCWs for PDOS without the proper POEA referral slip.
: Yes, agencies affected by this policy must submit monthly PDOS reports indicating the name of the NGO that administered the seminar.
: It commenced on 16 June 1993 for both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia-bound household workers.