Question & AnswerQ&A (POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 04, S. OF 2001)
The purpose is to provide utmost protection to Filipino workers and to regulate the deployment to Taiwan of Overseas Filipino Workers hired through Philippine Recruitment Agencies (PRA) and Taiwan Manpower Agencies (TMA).
Entities duly licensed to operate as manpower agencies by the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) in Taiwan must undergo registration at the POEA.
The documentary requirements include: a copy of valid license from the CLA notarized by a Taiwan district court; a certificate of good standing from the CLA; and a duly accomplished TMA application form with a photocopy of a valid passport of the TMA owner.
Required documents include: Certificate of Business Registration of the TMA with English translation; Master employment contract notarized and verified by MECO; Special Power of Attorney (SPA) in favor of the Philippine agency and TMA notarized and verified by MECO; Memorandum of Agreement between TMA and Philippine agency notarized and verified by MECO; Manpower request signed by the employer, notarized and verified by MECO; and CLA letter of approval verified by MECO.
Requirements include a duly accomplished Information Sheet of the worker; individual employment contract based on the approved master employment contract (cosigned by TMA for domestic helpers/caregivers); and visa stamped on passport.
Generally, a Taiwan employer shall be accredited to only one PRA. However, POEA may grant accreditation to a second PRA under conditions such as volume of manpower requirements, urgency of deployment, difficulty in sourcing skills, or other justifiable reasons.
Registration of TMAs is automatically suspended or cancelled if their license is suspended, cancelled, or expired by the CLA. Non-compliance with POEA rules and regulations is also ground for suspension or cancellation by POEA.
All workers must undergo a Taiwan-specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) using skills-specific modules developed by POEA in coordination with industry associations and NGOs. Only POEA-accredited organizations can conduct the PDOS. Workers must present a PDOS Certificate at the POEA Labor Assistance Center prior to departure.
Documents needed include a letter of confirmation for renewal from employer; valid business license if necessary; CLA letter of approval verified by MECO; and confirmation of the employment contract by the employer.
Conditions include the volume of manpower requirements, urgency of deployment, difficulty in sourcing the skills required, or other justifiable reasons determined by the Administration.