Dubai POLO asks POEA to issue overseas employment certificates to vacationing OFWs

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Dubai  Attaché John Rio A. Bautista has requested the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to, for the time being, issue Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) to Filipino workers vacationing in the Philippines so that they may return to the UAE.

This, in light of a staffing shortage at POLO Dubai due to COVID-19 that has led to the closure of the labor office for two days. The infected POLO employees are currently undergoing a 10-day isolation period.

“Due to the limited number of personnel uninfected by COVID-19, POLO Dubai has requested the POEA to accommodate and allow affected OFWs who [have] failed to get their [employment] contracts verified onsite to be issued an OEC,” Bautista said in an advisory.

Verification of employment contracts is required when applying for an OEC. OFWs must have the OEC in order to board their flights back to the UAE. It serves as travel tax and terminal fee exemption, as well as proof that they were processed at POEA.

“What is being required by POLO for contract verification, they [OFWs] should bring with them when securing OEC at POEA,” the labor attaché told GMA News Online via Whatsapp.

These documents include a copy of the residence visa stamped on the passport’s page and the employment contract itself.

Bautista cited provisions of POEA Memorandum Circular 23 series of 2021 as grounds for his request.

“Based on this POEA Memorandum Circular, it is possible for OFWs not in possession of verified contracts to be allowed to process their OECs in the Philippines provided they present the complete requirements and follow the procedures…,” Bautista said in the advisory.

POLO will reopen Monday, June 13—as there is no office on Saturdays and Sundays—and will only transact with OFWs who have made appointments, Bautista said.

In a previous interview, the labor attaché did not disclose how many of POLO’s personnel were infected.

“[A] considerable number that could affect our operations, put our client at risk as well as other staff,” he nonetheless said.

POLO has a total of about 25 staff, including welfare officers. — BM, GMA News