Policy: Separate OEC from other fees
- POEA requires that the OEC or exit clearance be issued without tying it to payment of PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG premiums or fees.
- POEA directs that the OEC issuance can proceed through OEC/exit clearance processing as a standalone requirement.
- POEA implements a collection scheme intended to respond to calls from OFWs and workers’ organizations to separate other government fees from OEC issuance.
Effective date and covered workers
- The separation scheme applies beginning April 1, 2015.
- The OEC or exit clearance is issued by POEA and its processing centers in Metro Manila to Balik-Manggagawa or vacationing workers.
- The same separation scheme is adopted for new hires, including agency hired workers, starting April 1, 2015.
OEC issuance: independent of PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG
- The OEC or exit clearance is issued by POEA and its processing centers independently from PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG collections.
- OEC issuance is no longer tied up with payment of fees/premiums to PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG.
- A Balik-Manggagawa worker can secure the OEC separate from other agency fee payments, because OEC is issued together with OWWA membership.
Mandatory PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG contributions
- POEA requires workers to continuously update their membership in PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG for protection.
- POEA states that PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG contributions are mandatory under existing laws.
- POEA allows direct enrollment and payment to PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG through their various offices and collection centers.
Coordination duties of recruitment agencies
- POEA enjoins landbased recruitment agencies to coordinate with PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG for enrollment of their hired workers.
- Landbased recruitment agencies must also coordinate for the payment of corresponding fees for their hired workers with respect to PHILHEALTH and PAG-IBIG.
- The coordination obligation applies to workers covered under the advisory’s adoption of the same scheme for new hires, including agency hired workers, starting April 1, 2015.
Implementation instructions to POEA offices
- POEA instructs the concerned POEA offices to ensure the smooth implementation of the new collection system.
- POEA places processing responsibility on POEA and its processing centers in Metro Manila under the updated issuance arrangement.
Sanctions and penalties
- No penalty, fine, or sanction is stated in POEA Advisory No. 06, s. 2015.