Dubai POLO moves for full automation of OFW contract verification

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is moving to fully automate the contract verification of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), saying that doing so will further streamline operations.

An average of up to 600 applicants, comprising the bulk of daily transactions, are currently being processed for the purpose, the labor office added.

Doing so will also ease the burden on OFWs who still need to visit POLO for the pre-departure requirement. POLO is housed in the premises of the Philippine Consulate General, located in Al Qusais, a sleepy, residential community in the outskirts of the city.

Contract verification is required for an OFW to be issued an Overseas Employment Certificate  without which boarding for a flight back to the UAE will be denied.

“Further improvements will soon be introduced leading to full automation of the process and (an expansion of) the coverage to benefit (the) maximum number of OFW clients,” said Atty. John Rio A. Bautista, Labor Attaché of POLO in Dubai.  

The online submission system for contract verification was initially launched on June20, 2022.

Online forms were made available for OFWs with confirmed flights falling on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, during the pilot test, as they comprise the largest number of walk-in clients every Friday. 

Bautista said upcoming available forms will include OFWs with flights scheduled on a weekday.

Meantime, the labor official said POLO processed an all-time high of 1,007 successfully verified contracts in a single day on July 7, 2022 prior to the Eid Al Adha break during which offices were closed from July 8 to 11.

This figure, which involved OFWs having flights scheduled during the Eid holidays, was part of the 2,253 total transactions made on the same day. Other transactions include OWWA membership and renewal, Pag-IBIG Fund and SSS services.

Bautista said POLO processes a daily average of 500 to 600 applicants for contract verification, 300 applicants for OWWA membership, 250 applicants for Pag-IBIG Fund and 300 applicants for SSS services.—LDF, GMA News