Dubai: Dubai-based Filipinos visiting Manila may face a tough time coming back to the UAE, as the Philippine authorities have tightened screening of workers who came here on a visit visa and later found employment.
Such workers are considered “undocumented” and must produce a number of papers proving their employment, failing which would bar them from boarding their flight back to the UAE after spending time at home on an annual or emergency leave.
A number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai have reported facing trouble during upon exit from the Philippines.
Officials of the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (Polo) in Dubai, an arm of the consulate, confirmed the new requirements but clarified it only applies to those who went home without obtaining their overseas employment certificiate (OEC) in Dubai.
“It is POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) that requires the documents to those applicants/OFWs who left the Philippines with undocumented status -- meaning departed the Philippines on visit visa and after sometime found employment in the UAE,” a Polo official in Dubai told XPRESS.
POEA is the state agency that regulates foreign employment of Filipinos.
An OEC, which costs Dh10 and exempts Filipino overseas workers from paying travel tax (Dh160), is also used by Manila to ensure their workers abroad are documented and insured.
It can be obtained by personal appearance, with proof of employment and a valid residence visa.
In addition, nannies applying for an OEC must present a contract stating their monthly salary as $400 (about Dh1,470).
All OEC applicants in Dubai must pay membership and insurance cover with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and must sign up with “Pag-Ibig”, a home mutual fund.
Filipino workers who go home on vacation but failed to obtain an OEC from Dubai are now asked to produce an employment letter from their human resource department and an original labour contract; as well as copies of passport, UAE residence, UAE Labor Card and the company’s commercial license. These must be authenticated by the Polo against a Dh40 fee, the official said.
Many Filipinos have nixed the move as another money-making venture, but others welcomed it.
“It is for our own good,” said Lisa Magno Concepcion, leader of the Filipino Community in Dubai. “There are established rules in place. Everyone leaving our country for whatever purpose must be properly documented.”
