Leadership and Rank
- The head of the Office holds the rank of Deputy Minister and Ambassador (Chief of Division II).
Geographical Scope and Coverage
- Coverage includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, North and South Yemen, Nigeria, Libya, Malta, Cyprus.
- The President may designate additional areas to the Office’s jurisdiction.
Powers, Functions, and Jurisdiction
- Coordinates all labor, employment, and welfare services in covered countries, liaising with host country agencies.
- Promotes Filipino manpower and expertise aligned with sound market development plans.
- Protects Filipino workers' interests and welfare.
- Maximizes foreign exchange earnings from Filipino workers and service companies.
- Provides cultural, welfare, information, and legal assistance to Filipino workers and companies where applicable.
- Authorized to enter contracts with private and government entities to promote Filipino manpower and services.
- Revenues from contracts form a revolving fund for the Office’s operational expenses.
- Approves, endorses, processes, and monitors contracts or agreements between Filipino companies/workers and foreign principals/employers.
- Holds quasi-judicial power to hear, decide disputes including money claims, disability, and death claims connected with employment.
- Decisions are final and executory with appeal only to the Minister of Labor and Employment; Minister’s decisions are final and unappealable.
- Can suspend or revoke authorities of agencies or companies deploying workers for violations of labor laws or this order and impose fines or penalties.
- Maintains a permanent integrated registry of all Filipino workers, employing companies, and contracts in the region.
Coordination with Relevant Government Offices
- May request assistance from overseas employment offices of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Construction Industry Authority, Central Bank of the Philippines, Ministry of Justice, Manila International Airport Authorities.
- Coordinates with the One-Stop Processing Center (MoLE) and Labor Assistance Center (Manila International Airport).
Funding and Budget
- Initial funding of Seven Million Pesos (P7,000,000.00) from the Workers’ Welfare Fund (WELFUND).
- Annual contribution is one-fourth of the previous year’s incremental WELFUND collections.
- Annual operating budget included in the General Appropriations Act.
Staffing and Compensation
- The Office will prepare a staffing pattern subject to approval by the Minister of Labor and Employment.
- Staffing follows Civil Service and Overseas Circular of the Civil Service Commission (OCPC) rules.
- Foreign assignments governed by applicable foreign service guidelines.
Disbursement from National Treasury
- Minister of Budget to release accrued welfare fund deposits from the Bureau of Employment Services, Overseas Employment Development Board, and National Seamen Board to the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers as mandated by Presidential Decrees 1694 and 1809.
Implementation and Rules
- The Office head shall prepare implementing rules and regulations for the Executive Order.
- These rules will be submitted for approval to the Minister of Labor and Employment within 30 days from effectivity.
Audit and Financial Controls
- The Commission on Audit Chairman shall ensure adequate controls over Welfare Fund expenditures related to the Office’s operations.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon issuance.