Overseas employment has become a multimillion-peso industry for those engaged in it – from the licensed recruitment agencies to travel agencies and medical clinics. Government agencies also gain revenues from the overseas employment program, from passport processing fees to mandatory memberships in various government institutions.

It seems the key word in relation to overseas workers’ deployment is “mandatory.” Nearly everything is mandatory. Memberships in PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund are mandatory. An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has to be a member of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, and needs to obtain an overseas employment certificate (OEC) from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, especially as a new-hire, meaning a first-time OFW.

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details