POEA Guidelines: Taiwan Worker Deployment

The circular is issued under POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 2 (Series of 2001).
The Special Hiring Program for Taiwan is implemented pursuant to the existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippines through TECO and MECO.
The circular requires employer recruitment through a Recruitment Agreement executed with POEA pursuant to the existing MOU on the Special Hiring Program.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) verification is required for the employer documents submitted to POEA.

The Special Hiring Program for Taiwan is a facility within POEA that handles recruitment and deployment of workers directly.
The program recruits and deploys workers without the participation of Taiwan manpower agencies and the Philippine licensed recruitment agencies.
The program is implemented through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) under the existing MOU.
The program is administered with operational assistance from the Labor Center (MLC).

Employers availing of the program must comply with the documentary requirements and participation steps stated under these guidelines.
The POEA initiates recruitment proceedings after receiving the required documents duly verified by MECO and a Labor Center (MLC).
The MLC assists POEA in negotiating recruitment agreement and contractual terms.
The MLC informs the employer of acceptance upon receipt of POEA’s confirmation.

Employers must submit a Brief Company Profile showing the nature of business, number of employees, number of years in business, and similar details.
Employers must submit a Demand Letter/Manpower requirements indicating qualification criteria such as education, age, gender, experience, and skills certification/license.
Employers must submit a copy of the Company’s Employment Contract for the foreign worker indicating the salary offer and other benefits.
Employers must submit a Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) Approval Letter.
Employers must submit a Target deployment date.
Employers must submit the above documents duly verified by MECO and a Labor Center (MLC) to POEA, which then initiates recruitment proceedings.
POEA and the employer must execute a Recruitment Agreement pursuant to the existing MOU on the Special Hiring Program.

The employer and worker must adopt an Employment Contract consistent with the terms of agreement of MECO/POEA with CLA/EVAT.
The parties may negotiate better terms and conditions of employment.
MLC/POEA must guide workers in negotiating contractual terms.
After the worker’s visa is released, POEA must assist in processing contracts and issuing the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
When necessary, processing of employment contracts and issuance of OECs must be conducted in POEA regional offices where recruitment was conducted to facilitate documentation.

The employer has authority to make the final selection of workers.
Worker selection may be done by mail or personal interview in the Philippines, or through other means such as teleconferencing.
Recruitment for Taiwan employers must be conducted in Metro Manila or in the region/s preferred by the employer, with POEA Regional Center or POEA extension units exercising supervision over special hiring activities.
Selected workers must undergo the necessary briefing and the required Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) prior to employment in Taiwan.
The briefing must familiarize workers with the company’s terms and conditions, technical peculiarities of the demands and its work environment, host country profile, and values/attitudes for effective employment abroad.
The briefing must also cover documentary requirements, detailed procedures in processing travel papers, and itemized expenses of workers hired under the program.
During PDOS, workers must be forewarned not to run away unduly from the employer lest they be charged of a criminal offense.
Selected workers must undergo a medical examination prescribed by the employer and host country, conducted by hospitals/clinics accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) of Taiwan and the Philippines, POEA and TECO.

Workers who pass the medical examination must submit documentary requirements to POEA for issuance of visa by TECO.
Workers must submit a valid passport.
Workers must submit NBI Clearance.
Workers must submit a Medical Certificate.
Workers must submit the Employment Contract.
Workers must submit a copy of the CLA Approval Letter.
Workers must submit pictures.
Workers must submit the Visa Fee.

Employers must bear travelling expenses during interview in the Philippines, including airfare, hotel accommodation, shuttle services, visa to the Philippines, and similar costs.
Employers must bear advertisement cost for scarcely available skills.
Workers must bear documentation costs, including the cost of passport, NBI Clearance, medical examination, medicare premium, trade testing (if necessary), and visa (if not paid for by the employer).
Processing costs must be handled through negotiation between the employer and the worker with assistance of POEA.
Processing costs include airfare, POEA processing fee, and OWWA Membership fee.

POEA must initiate recruitment proceedings after document submission, MECO verification, and MLC verification.
MLC must assist POEA in negotiation of recruitment agreement and contractual terms.
MLC/POEA must guide workers during contract negotiations.
POEA must assist in contract processing and issuing the OEC after visa release.
POEA must conduct or facilitate contract and OEC documentation through regional offices when necessary to expedite processing.