DUBAI: Filipino expatriate workers can enjoy longer vacation time when going home on holiday as they can now skip the punishing queues to get an “exit clearance” – better known as overseas employment certificate (OEC) – by applying for it electronically.
Serpentine queues are part of the daily scene at the Philippine embassy or consulate in the UAE, where up to 1,000 Filipinos apply daily for exit clearance.
There are an estimated 600,000 Filipinos here. Until now, those who fail to get an exit clearance face even longer queues back home to obtain one.
While the clearance costs just Dh10, its issuance is tied to other mandatory requirements such as health insurance payment, home mutual fund membership and registration fee with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Filipinos welcomed the service as the manual process eats up one full day of their limited holidays.
“We’re excited about this electronic exit clearance. Many of us end up spending an entire day forming a queue to get an exit clearance,” said Alan Bacason, head of Filcom, an umbrella of more than 70 Filipino groups in Dubai. “People are willing to pay a little more for convenience.”
The electronic exit clearance is a joint project of Teleserv, a Manila-based call centre firm, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
The total fee for an exit clearance is Php2,700 (about Dh270). This includes OEC processing, renewal of OWWA and Philhealth memberships, Pag-Ibig contribution, Teleserv’s service fee, and the delivery charge.
The amount must be paid by the applicant initially, but a refund will be given if the OWWA and Philhealth memberships remain valid at the time of application. The amount will be refunded along with the delivery of the OEC anywhere in the Philippines.
