Suspension of OECs for Filipino expats lifted

Dubai: The suspension of processing of the exit pass, better known overseas employment certificate (OEC), for outgoing overseas Filipino workers has been lifted, the Philippines' labour department announced on Monday.

In his latest advisory, Labour and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III confirmed that the 15-day moratorium imposed on the processing of OECs has already been terminated effective December 1.

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The OEC is a document that every expatriate worker from the Philippines is required to present at the airport prior to departing back to their destination for work.

“[The suspension] has ended on 01 December 2017 and no extensions have been imposed. The processing of OECs can now resume,” Bello said in a labour advisory.

The Department of Labour and Employment (Dole) had issued an order on November 9 this year to stop the processing of OECs, following reports that some POEA staff had been conniving with illegal recruiters.

Belo said that a team of personnel from the POEA has been tasked to investigate the alleged irregularities.

“The fact-finding team will carry on with its work at the POEA to uncover the culpable parties who are responsible for the illegal recruitment activities which have victimised several of our applicants for overseas employment,” Belo pointed out.