Scope, purpose, and program coverage
- The circular covers Taiwanese employers who have valid registration with Philippine Recruitment Agencies (PRAs).
- The circular allows such Taiwanese employers to hire foreign workers under SHPT through dual registration—under both SHPT and their registered PRA.
- The circular applies to hiring under SHPT using IDES, a web-based recruitment system for direct employer hiring.
- The circular is intended to simplify SHPT hiring, reduce processing time for finding suitable foreign workers, and reduce mobilization costs.
- The circular is designed to enable Taiwanese employers to directly hire foreign workers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), without participation of private recruitment agencies/brokers in the direct hiring process.
Dual registration framework
- Taiwanese employers with valid PRA registration shall be allowed to hire under SHPT on a dual registration basis.
- The circular requires a Uniform Compensation Package for workers hired under the PRA and workers hired under the SHPT.
- The circular operationalizes dual registration through IDES under SHPT and coordination between GPB and the registered PRA.
Uniform compensation package rule
- Taiwanese employers must provide a uniform compensation package applicable to its workers hired under both PRA and SHPT.
- The uniform compensation package applies to workers hired under the PRA and those hired under the SHPT under the same Taiwanese employer’s dual registration arrangement.
Documentary requirements for SHPT registration
- Employer registration under SHPT under this dual registration arrangement requires documentary submissions duly verified by MECO Labor Center.
- The required documents are:
- Official endorsement by MECO Labor Center;
- Master employment contract; and
- Manpower request indicating the position/s and the corresponding compensation package for workers to be hired.
Notice to the Philippine Recruitment Agency
- The GPB must send a written notice to the Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA) that its registered employer is recruiting workers under SHPT.
- The notice requirement ensures the PRA is informed of recruitment activity under SHPT that involves a Taiwanese employer under dual registration.
Mobilization costs and responsibility allocation
- The costs of mobilization paid by the workers under SHPT shall apply for workers hired under SHPT.
- The GPB is responsible for the workers deployed under SHPT-IDES.
- The existing PRA assumes responsibility for the workers it has deployed.
Compliance directive
- All implementing parties must follow the circular’s requirements under a “For strict compliance” instruction.