Pursuant to DOLE Administrative Order No. 196, Series of 2018, in relation to Article 18 of the Labor Code of the Philippines (Ban on Direct Hiring), Republic Act 10022, and the Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers of 2016, while observing the fundamental principle of deployment of workers only to countries with certification as compliant destination for our workers, the following guidelines shall govern the registration of Direct-Hire OFWs by this Administration.
 
I. Coverage. No employer shall directly hire an overseas Filipino worker for overseas employment. The following, however, are exempted from the ban:

a. Members of the diplomatic corps;

b. International organizations;

c. Heads of state and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister; or

d.   Other employers as may be allowed by the Administration, such as:

1.    Those provided in a., b., and c. above who bear a lesser rank, if endorsed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), or Head of Mission in the absence of the POLO;

2.    Professionals  and  skilled  workers  with  duly  executed  verified/ authenticated contracts containing terms and conditions over and above the standards set by the POEA. The number of professionals and skilled OFWs hired for the first time by the employer shall not exceed five (5). For the purpose of determining the number, workers hired as a group shall be counted as one; or

3.    Workers hired by  a  relative/family member who  is  a  permanent resident of the host country, except domestic workers (live-in caregiver/care worker or household service workers).

II.    Employment Standards. Pursuant to  Section 134 of  the 2016 Revised POEA Rules, the Administration shall secure the best possible terms and conditions  of  employment  for  OFWs.  As  such,  it  shall  develop  and continually review employment standards in accordance with policy thrusts and market developments, including Direct-Hire OFWs.

a.  Life and insurance coverage. It is the primary responsibility of the employer that the Direct-Hire OFW is provided with a compulsory insurance coverage. The repatriation insurance of an OFW and his/her remains, and the transport of his/her personal effects shall be the obligation of the employer to cover actual repatriation cost and other attendant costs, including airfare and immigration fines/penalties.

b.   Minimum Provisions of Employment Contracts. Pursuant further to Section 135 of the same Rules, the following shall be the minimum provisions in employment contracts for all Direct-Hire OFWs:

1.    Complete name and address of the employer/company;

2.    Position and jobsite of the Overseas Filipino Worker;

3.    Basic monthly salary, including benefits and allowances and mode of payment. The salary shall not be lower than the prescribed minimum wage in the host country or prevailing minimum wage in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, whichever is higher;

4.    Food and accommodation or the monetary equivalent which shall be commensurate to the cost of living in the host country, or off-setting benefits;

5.    Commencement and duration of contract;

6.    Free transportation from and back to the point of hire, or off-setting benefits, and free inland transportation at the jobsite or off-setting benefits;

7.    Regular work hours and day off;

 8.    Overtime pay  for  services rendered beyond the  regular working hours, rest days and holidays;

9.    Vacation leave and sick leave for every year of service;

10.  Free emergency medical and dental treatment;

11.  Just/valid/authorized causes for termination of the contract or of the services of the workers, taking into consideration the customs, traditions, norms, mores, practices, company policies and the labor laws and social legislations of the host country;

12.  Settlement of disputes;

13. Repatriation of worker in case of imminent danger due to war, calamity, and other analogous circumstances, at the expense of employer; and

14.  In case of worker ™s death/repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers human remains and personal belongings, at the expense of the employer.

c.  Standards for Professionals and Skilled Direct-Hire OFWs. For professionals and skilled Direct-Hire OFWs, the employment offer should be over and above the minimum provisions of employment contract stated above, and may include provisions such as, but not limited to:

1.    Basic  compensation  package  above  the   minimum  prescribed minimum wage in the host country;

2.    Provision of secured conveyance to and from the work site;

3.    Bonuses;

4.    Annual vacation with full pay and free airline tickets;

5.    Gratuity pay;

6.    End of service award benefits;

7.    Free education for OFW children who are 18 years old or younger;

8.    Stock option program.

The Administration may likewise formulate country or skill specific policies and guidelines for Direct-Hire OFWs based on the following:

*  Existing labor and social laws of the host country;

* Relevant bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements with the host country; and

* Prevailing conditions/realities in the market

IV.  Medical Examination. Direct-Hire OFWs shall undergo and pass the pre- employment medical examination (PEME) by a hospital or a medical clinic accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) for the conduct of such examination  in  accordance  with  the  medical  requirements  of  the  host country.

A Direct-Hire OFW may be exempted from PEME if the worker has undergone a medical examination as a requirement for issuance of visa by the  country  of  destination.  A  copy  of  the  medical  certificate  shall  be submitted to the POEA.

V.  Pre-Employment and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PEOS and PDOS). All Direct-Hire OFWs are required to undergo Pre-Employment Orientation  Seminar  (PEOS)  and  Pre-Departure  Orientations  Seminar (PDOS), Comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation Program and submit their Certificates as part of the documentary requirements in their registration a copy of the certificates for completing the said seminars. However, OFWs with previous legal deployment and can present their valid Certificates of completion of the said seminars and will be returning to the same jobsite shall be exempted from this requirement.

VI. Documentary Requirements for Registration of Overseas Filipino Workers Hired by Employers who are Exempted from the Ban on Direct Hiring. Pursuant to Section 125 of 2016 Revised POEA Rules, the Direct- Hire OFWs hired by those employers exempted from the ban on direct hiring may be registered by the Administration upon submission of the following documents to the Direct Hire Assistance Division:

a.   For Professional and Skilled Workers

1.    Verified/authenticated original employment contract signed on each page by the employer or the authorized representative containing terms and conditions which are over and above the POEA employment minimum standards with the company profile, business license/commercial registration of the employer;

2.    Passport valid at least six (6) months before the date of intended departure;

3.    Valid and appropriate visa or work permit;

4.    Certificate of medical fitness to work from a DOH-accredited medical clinic for OFWs;

5.    Proof  of  certificate  of  insurance  coverage  covering  at  least  the benefits provided under Section 37 -A of RA 8042 as amended;

6.    Notarized statement by the worker on how the employment was secured, attaching the photocopy of the employer ™s passport/ID and contact details and,

7.    Certificate   of   attendance   to   the   Pre-Employment   Orientation Seminar (PEOS) and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) conducted by OWWA

b.   For Domestic Workers under I. Coverage a, c, and d.1 of this Guidelines

1.    Employment contract duly signed by the employer and worker and duly verified/authenticated and endorsed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) or by the Philippine Embassy which has the jurisdiction over the jobsite;

2.    Passport valid at least six (6) months before the date of intended departure;

3.    Valid and appropriate visa or work permit;

4.    Certificate of medical fitness to work from a DOH-accredited medical clinic for OFWs;

5.    Proof  of  certificate  of  insurance  coverage  covering  at  least  the benefits provided under Section 37 -A of RA 8042 as amended;
6.    TESDA Skill Certification equivalent to National Certificate II (NCII)
or higher;
7.    Notarized statement by the worker on how the employment was secured, attaching the photocopy of the employer's passport/ID and contact details;
 
8. Certificate of attendance to Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS); and

9. Pre-Departure  Orientation  Seminar  (PDOS)  and  Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP);

VII. Procedure

The documentation of Direct-Hire OFWs shall be managed by the Direct Hire Assistance Division (DHAD) under the Pre-Employment Services Office. Workers with employers who do not belong to the exempted category shall undergo the following procedure and the DHAD shall:

a. Receive the application to process as Direct Hire and evaluate requirements for documentation from the Direct-Hired OFW and inform the worker if the employer may be allowed to directly-hire workers;

b.   If the employer may be allowed, evaluate the received application and completeness of the documents;

c.   Recommend the issuance of a clearance by the Administrator;

d.   If the Clearance is granted, the following steps shall follow:

1.    DHAD shall inform the worker to proceed to the DHAD and the DHAD   authorized   officer   shall   approve/sign  the   employment contract;
2.    Issuance of an OFW Info Sheet to be filled-up by the Direct-Hire
OFW;
3.    Encoding relevant information of Direct-Hire OFW into the Direct- Hire E-Processing System;
4.    Endorsement  for   assessment   of   appropriate   fees   for   POEA Processing;  and  Overseas  Workers  Welfare  Administration (OWWA); PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund and Philhealth contributions and the worker pays to the authorized cashier for the release of the OEC to the Direct-Hire OFW applicant whose employer is deemed exempted from the ban on direct hire;
5.    Endorsement  of  processed  records  of  Direct-Hire  OFWs  to  the POEA Central Records Division for storage after the period of retention of the OFW records.

VIII. Fees and Costs.

a.   Cost to the Employer. The following fees and costs shall be paid by the employer:

1.    Visa, including the stamping fee;
2.    Work permit and resident permit;
3.    Round trip airfare or offsetting benefits;
4.    Transportation from the airport to the jobsite;
5.    POEA processing fee;
6.    OWWA membership fee; and
7.    Insurance coverage.

b. Cost to the Worker. The worker shall shoulder the following documentation costs for his/her overseas employment as well as his/her membership to social protection program of the government:

1.    Passport;
2.    NBI/Police Clearance;
3.    NSO authenticated birth certificate;
4.    Transcript of Records and diploma issued by the school, certified by
CHED and authenticated by the DFA;
5.    Professional license issued by the PRC, authenticated by DFA;
6.    Certificate of  competency issued by  TESDA or  other competent certifying body for the job applied for;
7.    DOH-prescribed  medical/health  examination  based  on  the  host country Medical protocol; and
8.    Membership with PhiIHealth, Pag-IBIG Fund and Social Security
System.

VIII. Non-Exemption for Employers Accredited with a licensed Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA). Foreign employers with previous or current accreditation with any licensed Philippine recruitment agencies shall not be allowed to directly hire workers. Employers with previous accreditation with PRAs may be allowed to directly hire workers after the lapse of one (1) year from the cancellation/revocation/expiration of its accreditation or registration with a PRA.

IX.  Registration at the POEA Main Office and the Regional Centers and Units.

The registration of Direct-Hire OFWs shall be carried out at the POEA Main Office  and  its  Regional  Centers  and  Units.  The  Regional  Centers  shall course their requests to the Administrator for Clearance for Direct Hiring through the Regional and Overseas Coordinating Office.

X.   Effectivity

All  previous  issuances  that  are  inconsistent  with  the  provision  of  this Memorandum Circular are hereby modified and/or amended accordingly.

This Circular shall be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and filing with the Office of the National Administrative Register.