Last July 4, 2017 Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III together with Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella hold a press conference and debriefing regarding the abolishment of OEC or Overseas Employment Certificate requirements for OFW. The OEC will be replaced by iDOLE or DOLE OFW I.D.
iDOLE will serve as identification card for overseas Filipino workers. All bona fide OFWs will be given iDOLE or DOLE I.D. as substitute of the Balik Mangagawa Certificate (OEC). This will be given free to all OFWs by the Labor Department, so this will not entail cost to overseas migrant workers.
This identification card of Department of Labor and Employment, is a major component of the Integrated DOLE system (iDOLE). Serving as universal ID for all government transactions, it is intended to help OFWs in processing requirements, contributions etc. and can be used in transacting with Social Security System, PhilHealth, OWWA.
Other than the above, the iDOLE can also be used as a debit card and an ATM card for OFW banks, as well as a beep card for the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit stations.
According to Secretary Bello of Department of Labor, their department is also studying that the iDOLE or DOLE I.D. can be used/serve as electronic OFW passport. He will be coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bureau of Immigration to accomplish the plan of converting it as passport.
Unlike before wherein OFWs have to go to POEA for the OEC every time they go for work abroad and come back to the Philippines, with the iDOLE, workers no need to go POEA. All they need is to show their iDOLE card.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) together with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will be collaborating for the hassle-free issuing of iDOLE.
The special OFW ID or iDOLE program will launched by mid July this year.
Another project that may ease the lives of OFWs and improve the delivery of government services and program will be the launching of OFW Bank in October 2017.
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