Myth: OFW = OCW

[Adroth]

Former co-workers who find out that I found a job overseas invariably ask me: "How much was the placement fee?" The first time that happened, I just smiled and said I didn't have to, because my company hired me directly (the wonders of JobStreet.com). Then it happened again . . . and again . . . and yet again.

When I send money home around December, bank clerks sometimes try to break the ice by saying "end of contract na ho ba tayo?"

Since a large number of Filipinos who work abroad do so by way of contractual employment, some people have apparently gotten the idea that that is the only way to get work outside the Philippines. Hence the misconception: an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is an Overseas Contract Worker (OCW).

Introducing the "Name Hire" -- an OFW who is a regular employee, and therefore has all the benefits of a local (with respect to the country where the company is) employee. By definition, a Name Hire is someone who finds a job on his/her own, without the aid of an employment agency -- hence no placement fees.

Note: Name hires still enjoy POEA protection.

Any Name Hires on the forum?

[GOwin]

but an OCW is an OFW.

;-)

[Adroth]

Originally posted by GOwin
but an OCW is an OFW.

;-)

All OCWs are OFWs, but not all OFWs are OCWs.

[GOwin]

Hai!

Do you feel slighted if others think of you as an OCW?

[Adroth]

Originally posted by GOwin
Hai!

Do you feel slighted if others think of you as an OCW?

Its a mistake. I believe in correcting mistakes

Are you one or the other?

[GOwin]

Neither.

Was just wondering what this thread was about.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by GOwin
Neither.

Was just wondering what this thread was about.

Its a place for name-hires to sound off and share alternative, possibly unconventional, ways to seek employment overseas.

[floreno]

Actually nowadays the term OCW is not used already. OFW na talaga. No ifs no buts.

[elyserva]

What about those whose contracts are unlimited, are they still OCW?:D

[soulthird]

it's really no big deal. I think some people find the term OCW almost degrading, reason why they want a distinction.

[aKoiTo]

Yes I agree, and that I think is the main purpose of the thread starter, he wanted to have that higher distinction compared to other OFW.

just wanted to ask.... what do you call that "paper" that you and the company signed after you are accepted for the job. Is it contract? So is it correct to say that you are binded by a contract hence a contract worker?

Please enlighten :)

[GOwin]

All kinds of work are actually covered by a contract.

;-)

[Dunedain]

Originally posted by soulthird
it's really no big deal. I think some people find the term OCW almost degrading, reason why they want a distinction.

You should see the benefits - like bringing in a certain amount of electronic stuff every six months wihout the fear of being taxed when flying back to Pinas (for a little R&R) by Customs. I can't see anything degrading about an advantage.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by aKoiTo
just wanted to ask.... what do you call that "paper" that you and the company signed after you are accepted for the job. Is it contract? So is it correct to say that you are binded by a contract hence a contract worker?

Please enlighten :) [/B]

What is the difference between a contractual worker and a regular employee? :cool:

[Adroth]

Originally posted by Dunedain
You should see the benefits - like bringing in a certain amount of electronic stuff every six months wihout the fear of being taxed when flying back to Pinas (for a little R&R) by Customs. I can't see anything degrading about an advantage.

All registered OFWs, both OCW and name hires, enjoy the benefits you just mentioned.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by soulthird
it's really no big deal. I think some people find the term OCW almost degrading, reason why they want a distinction.

Important differences:

OCWs pay an arm and a leg to employment agencies. They have to pay large placements fees before they can get their jobs. Name-hires don't.

Some OCWs endure a lot of BS from their employers. OCWs who work in Taiwanese factories, for example, are made to live in company dormitories, and have curfews -- they can't go out beyond 10PM. They also aren't paid their salaries till the end of their contracts; before then, they only recieve allowances.

Name-hires have no such restrictions, especially if they have "expat's packages", and enjoy the same labor protection as the locals.

Message:

Becoming an OCW is not the only way to work overseas. People deserve to know the alternatives.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by floreno
Actually nowadays the term OCW is not used already. OFW na talaga. No ifs no buts.

True. But the problem is people equate being an OFW with being an OCW. That is the misconception that this thread seeks to address.

[aKoiTo]

Originally posted by Adroth
What is the difference between a contractual worker and a regular employee? :cool:

Does a regular employee do not have a contract :) take note of the key word CONTRACT.

I think I know what you wanted to prove here Adroth, you wanted to be treated differently or maybe you think you are higher than the OCWs just because you went there by yourself.

Hail to you and I salute you for that but please keep in mind that if they have a chance to avail of what you got then nobody in this world will pay just to get a job abroad. If you think that you are better than them (the OCW that you are trying to put down) then think again, you may just be one of those lucky persons who happen to be at the right place and at the right time.

[venn123]

A ganon pala yun.. I thought the reason why they changed the term OCW to OFW was because of the word filipino. Since there are also overseas workers from other countries aside from the Philippines. OFW kasi pinoy tayo.

Sa akin, OCW or OFW pareho lang yun... parehong pinoy na nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa upang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang sarili at ang familya.

Ako ay nagtratrabaho sa ibang bansa and I dont mind being called OFW or OCW.......

[Adroth]

Originally posted by aKoiTo Does a regular employee do not have a contract take note of the key word CONTRACT.

So why is there a distinction between a regular employee and a contractual employee? If you really took the time to consider that, instead of dwelling on mere semantics, you would realize the difference.

All legally binding agreements involve contracts. People who get married sign a marriage contract, so are you saying husbands and wifes should be called "marital contractors"? :D

I think I know what you wanted to prove here Adroth, you wanted to be treated differently or maybe you think you are higher than the OCWs just because you went there by yourself.

Think what you will. Being in a free country means you are also free to be wrong. :cool:

Hail to you and I salute you for that but please keep in mind that if they have a chance to avail of what you got then nobody in this world will pay just to get a job abroad.

It is also very possible that people are not aware of the alternatives. I present the fact that people equate OCW with OFW as proof of this.

Yes indeed there are people who have to take this route, and make a decent living by doing so. However, as I said, this is not the only way to do it.

you may just be one of those lucky persons who happen to be at the right place and at the right time.

Luck plays a role in all things. However, there are different ways of looking at "luck". As one person said:

"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity."

If more people talked about how they managed to get "name-hired", more people might be better able to prepare themselves -- assuming working abroad is what they want to do.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by elyserva
What about those whose contracts are unlimited, are they still OCW?:D

The main POEA-based distinction between a name-hire and an OCW is the manner in which the job was obtained. If one was hired directly, without the benefit of a recruitment agency, then the worker is a name-hire.

[venn123]

Just asking ? what if you were recruited by an agency (foreign based) instead of an agency based in the philippines ? does that make you a OFW or OCW ?

Or what if you are directly hired by a company (foreign based) but you work for another company in that country to earn your salary but derive your salary from the agency ? Does that make you a OFW or OCW ?

OFW saka OCW nakakalito anyway... basta pinoy pa din

[Adroth]

NICE question. From what I've read, that's how Indian IT workers get into the US, and its actually causing a stir.

One would have to go into the fine print of POEA regulations to answer that one.

[venn123]

That's not true only for Indian nationals but for pinoys as well. During the 90's when Y2k was the "IN" thing. Agencies from the US like RCG, Interim Technologies recruited pinoys to work in the US. Their work site could be Citibank Verizon Prudential Geico S&P etc .... but are employed by the agency still.

Today, you can still work in an agency type of environment and your work site is different. H1B is still possible to a limited extent since the US economy is still slowly recovering. (Note however that the quota which was reduced last year has already been reached for this fiscal year) .

For companies whose mother company is the US and has a branches in the Philippines you can get another type of visa (transfer)

[Adroth]

Originally posted by venn123
For companies whose mother company is the US and has a branches in the Philippines you can get another type of visa (transfer)

Yup, that's the L-1 visa, for intra-company transfers. However, in response to calls to increase labor importation restrictions, people can no longer avail of L-1s unless they can prove that they've been working in the company for a number of years. The specific numbers of years is unclear though.

USCIS reportedly introduced this measure to guard against foreign companies that opened offices in the US just so that they could send people over using L-1s. There's also a move to discontinue the blanket L-1 program, that gave company a way of facilitating personnel transfers.

[Adroth]

Does anyone here have any experience looking for work in Europe or Latin America?

[aKoiTo]

Originally posted by Adroth
So why is there a distinction between a regular employee and a contractual employee? If you really took the time to consider that, instead of dwelling on mere semantics, you would realize the difference.

The thing is, what is the meaning of OCW, is it Overseas Contractual Worker?

All legally binding agreements involve contracts. People who get married sign a marriage contract, so are you saying husbands and wifes should be called "marital contractors"? :D

Exactly my point, so why are you saying that there is a difference between OFW and OCW if both of them have a contract?

Think what you will. Being in a free country means you are also free to be wrong. :cool:

and you are also free to be right :cool:

Luck plays a role in all things. However, there are different ways of looking at "luck". As one person said:

"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity."

as another one person says'

"Luck is the chance happening of fortunate or adverse events."

It is also very possible that people are not aware of the alternatives. I present the fact that people equate OCW with OFW as proof of this.

Yes indeed there are people who have to take this route, and make a decent living by doing so. However, as I said, this is not the only way to do it.

If more people talked about how they managed to get "name-hired", more people might be better able to prepare themselves -- assuming working abroad is what they want to do. ;) ;) ;) ;) :) ;)

Yes I agree with you on this and that can be conveyed in other manner than in a way that you are putting other group or person in different level. Why not just ask "How can we help other people who want to work abroad not to pay large amount of money" if this is really what you want to say?

peace :)

[Adroth]

Originally posted by aKoiTo
The thing is, what is the meaning of OCW, is it Overseas Contractual Worker?

I've already explained that. Read my earlier posts.

Not all OFWs are OCWs.

and you are also free to be right :cool:

Too bad you chose to be wrong by insisting on your narrow definitions. :D

Married people are not referred to as marital contractors because the term is not appropriate. The term "contractual worker" was created because their terms of service are not the same as regular workers. A name-hire is a regular worker.

Its all about "context".

Why not just ask "How can we help other people who want to work abroad not to pay large amount of money" if this is really what you want to say?

peace :) [/B]

If you want to start a thread called: "How can we help other people who want to work abroad not to pay large amount of money", go ahead. Like I said, its a free country. I like mine the way it is :cool:

I believe that correcting the perception that all OFWs are OCWs will generate interest in alternatives . . .which is exactly what is happening now.

[aKoiTo]

Originally posted by Adroth
I've already explained that. Not all OFWs are OCWs

and all OFW do have their Contract, so they can also be considered OCW, we can go on and on on this and it will stem in one word, that is Contract.

Too bad you chose to be wrong by insisting on your narrow definitions.

and why did you say that, because I am not in line with your own 'opinion'?

Married people are not referred to as marital contractors because the term is not appropriate. The term "contractual worker" was created because their terms of service are not the same as regular workers.

Last time I check we are talking about workers, but to answer you, yes married couple are not 'referred' like that but is it correct to say that they are not marital contractors (as you say) just because it is not good to the ears?

Because I believe that correcting the perception that all OFWs are OCWs will generate interest in alternatives . . .which is exactly what is happening now. :)

No, you did not say that because what you really wanted to convey in this thread is you to be treated higher than other Filipino workers just because you are direct hire or name hire.

Sorry to say this but believe it or not your thread is trying to discriminate those Filipino workers who pay large amount of money to help their family and at the same time our country as well, and believe it or not again, given the chance that they can work abroad without any big money to pay to someone they will bite it immediately, but this is not the case.

Open your eyes and tell me, can all those Filipino workers will be able to avail the same fate that you got? Look at jobstreet or bayt or monster or etc.. and see how many fresh graduate engineers (not to mention other courses) will meet their requirements.

peace

:yum: :yum:

[KuyaDanny]

:rolleyes:

[venn123]

Opps ... Is that the original intention of this post ? I hope not. I mean this could be an eye opener to alternative ways pinoys can seek work sa ibang bansa ?

whether direct hire or thru an agency sana people can post their experiences instead.

Isnt it better if we post possible websites/references for pinoys wanting to go abroad rather deal with negative issues.

Anyway, i know mahirap ang trabaho... hindi lang ngayon maski noong araw pa .... when I graduated from college mid eighties yun mahirap na maghanap ng trabaho..... I chose a field that was really new then ... comp sci..... pero ... most of batchmates are doing something else ... (more on business) rather than practice their profession. One factor mahirap na ang trabaho noon pa ....) Of course marami din yung naka punta ng Australia.... US and Canada. (boom ng IT noon (before Y2K)

Mas lalo na yung mga batchmates ko ng high school nasa abroad (approx 80 %) . Noong time na yun stiff competion na di mas lalo pa ngayon diba....

Kung noong 80s mahirap ang trabaho more so now kasi dati mas maraming graduate kaysa sa trabaho na eh ... every year ganoon na lang so parang spiral ang progression nito..... so kung every year may walang trabaho .. every year naman may nakakatapos ng pagaaral.... hmmm parang walang kataposan na deficit ah ......

Anyway, it is best to help each other na lang a least nakatulong sa kapwa pinoy....

[aKoiTo]

yes venn123, helping others find job abroad in this thread would be best rather than focusing on what is OFW and OCW which I think is the initial intent of Adroth.

Adroth, I am just stating my side and my interpretation on your thread, and this does not mean that I have something against you.

I am also one of those name hire you are mentioning here, its just that I believe if you want to help others we should not focus on delicate OFW or OCW thing. I feel that in doing this we may unknowingly bring a gap between the name hire and workers that passed from Agency and paid big money.

So now let's focus on how to help, Goodluck to all

peace out.

[Adroth]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Adroth
I've already explained that. Not all OFWs are OCWs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and all OFW do have their Contract, so they can also be considered OCW, we can go on and on on this and it will stem in one word, that is Contract.

The contracts that name-hires have are different from those of OCWs. So they cannot be considered "the same".

I understand that your objective is to be "politically correct". But "not talking" about the differences won't make those differences disappear.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Too bad you chose to be wrong by insisting on your narrow definitions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and why did you say that, because I am not in line with your own 'opinion'?

No. Because you refuse to consider the difference between regular and contractual workers. The fact of the matter is, there is a difference. Ask yourself, given a choice would take a contractual job, or regular employment?

Last time I check we are talking about workers, but to answer you, yes married couple are not 'referred' like that but is it correct to say that they are not marital contractors (as you say) just because it is not good to the ears?


quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because I believe that correcting the perception that all OFWs are OCWs will generate interest in alternatives . . .which is exactly what is happening now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No, you did not say that because what you really wanted to convey in this thread is you to be treated higher than other Filipino workers just because you are direct hire or name hire.


Sorry to say this but believe it or not your thread is trying to discriminate those Filipino workers who pay large amount of money to help their family and at the same time our country as well, and believe it or not again, given the chance that they can work abroad without any big money to pay to someone they will bite it immediately, but this is not the case.

That is your opinion. Believe what you want to believe. It doesn't change the true objective of this thread.

The fact that people do not distinguish between OCWs and OFWs suggests a lack of understanding about the available options. Hence the need for this discussion.

Open your eyes and tell me, can all those Filipino workers will be able to avail the same fate that you got? Look at jobstreet or bayt or monster or etc.. and see how many fresh graduate engineers (not to mention other courses) will meet their requirements.

If you expect to work abroad immediately after graduation, then you really are setting youself up for failure. Unless your are incredibly talented, it will take time to qualify for name-hire positions. I was in the work force for six years before I found my current job.

As I said earlier, luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If people had a better understanding of what was required to have the overseas-employment option, they will be in a better able to prepare themselves.

People with game plans are less inclined to make rash decisions, or sell themselves short. I once heard about a Filipina, who had a PhD in Psychology, working as a maid in Taiwan. What a waste. There may have been a million reasons why she chose not to maximize her degree -- I only hope it wasn't because she failed to consider the alternatives.

If more people talked about alternative ways of working abroad . . . who knows.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by venn123

whether direct hire or thru an agency sana people can post their experiences instead.

My sentiments exactly.

Originally posted by aKoiTo

Adroth, I am just stating my side and my interpretation on your thread, and this does not mean that I have something against you.

Does this mean that you are now ready to move on?

[altair]

do you people pay OWWA fees?

do you also have to show a certificate before leaving (OEC ba?)?

[venn123]

Yes you have to pay some fees when go back to the Philippines for a vacation. Minimal lang ata yun... The clearance certificate is the thing you need when you have to go back to work location.

Although, during my time 1990s I can get the clearance certificate in the airport just before boarding.

[venn123]

Okay guys to create a positive input on this thread, below are some possible careers that OCW/OFWs are in demand. (note some of or even most of you may know these types of jobs are in demand already). But here goes

For the US/CANADA and UK

1. Nurses
2. OT
3. PT

Nurses are in demand in all of these countries, although the US has a shortage of nurses even 5 years ago there is no let up. A huge percentage of nurses are of retiring age in the next 5-10 years hence more openings in the future. The catch is board passer ka . tapos pasado ka ng CGFNS and NCLEX (maybe my nurse friends in the forum can help me out on this) But this is HOT really hot. They even pay relocation allowances (some not all) for the US.

The drawback dito I think mas mahirap ata yung greencard process nila 3 years na ang waiting time (US).


For UK i think there is no examination just accreditation.

PT and OT are slowly coming back as in demand jobs.

US

TEACHERS - yes the US needs teachers ... In fact for the past few years maraming pinoy that were hired in California Texas Virginia and New York (these are the states na alam ko nag hire ng teachers)

most of those who were hired where Math and Science teachers some english teachers and also SPED teachers.


NOT SO HOT

US
IT - it hasnt fully recovered yet from the 2000. It is hard to enter this field right now unless you are into security adminstration (but locals are preferred obviously kasi security nila eh). Outsourcing pa ang kalaban so sa akin medyo (not hot into field na ito)

Singapore - yup there are openings here except that it wasnt as lucrative and open as it was in the 90's


Here is the catch because of globalization and outsourcing, sa aking palagay ah yung dimo pwede ilabas na trabaho sa isang bansa yun ang in demand gaya ng trabaho ng nurse (syempre nasa hospital sila) Malabong it outsource hehehe baka patay ng pasyente pagdumating sa ibang area......

accounting, finance, IT yan pwede outsourcing.....

Okay its time for others to share their ideas naman....

[Adroth]

Originally posted by venn123
Okay guys to create a positive input on this thread, below are some possible careers that OCW/OFWs are in demand.

Nice one venn.

About nurses. The US is going to make it harder for Filipino nurses to come in. Check the following excerpt:

US curbs entry of Filipino nurses

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/dec/11/yehey/top_stories/20041211top7.html

LOS ANGELES—Immigration officials beginning January 1 will block a shortcut that allowed thousands of foreign nurses, predominantly from the Philippines, to get US work permits, the State Department announced.

According to a State Department bulletin issued Wednesday, until further notice the government will not process applications filed after January 2002. The change means that what has been a 60-day wait could now drag on for three years or more.

However, the POEA is opening doors for nurses in Japan. From the POEA Web site:

No job order yet for Japan nurses and caregivers

http://www.poea.gov.ph/

There are no job orders for nurses and caregivers in Japan as the Philippines is yet to to sign the formal trade agreement between the two countries.

Japan and the Philippines have agreed in principle to drop tariffs on a range of goods traded between the two countries once a broader economic deal is finalized. Japan has also agreed to ease regulations on the entry of Filipino nurses and caregivers after they had completed language training and passed the nursing board exams. The agreement is expected to be finalized by the middle of next year.

The Philippine Nursing Law, however, might require nurses to serve for a few years in the Philippines before they can leave.

[Adroth]

Has anyone managed here to move out via:

- the academic route

- inter-company transfers

[venn123]

Nurses for the US

There is a way to overcome this obstacle. Previous to this, nurses are hired using a special H1 visa... A... It is for nurses only. However, a nurse can attually be petitioned thru an H1B. The catch however is the hospital in the US should only have nurses that have bachelor's degree instead of a 2 year degree as their minumum requirement. If so a nurse can be petitioned under H1B. So instead of waiting for 3 years or more, they can come in 1 years time (note H1b visa is already close for this fiscal year)

L1 transfer - yup I have a friend who worked for Oracle before in the philippines who transfered to the mother company in the US.

Thru education Ask Victory or Rabaddal (they ussually post in the education area of pinoyexchange. They were students who took up their MBA in the US... Wharton i think. Victory is working/studying PHD still in the US. These people would know a lot more on this topic.

[Dunedain]

Originally posted by Adroth
Has anyone managed here to move out via:

- the academic route

- inter-company transfers

I know a couple of guys in the architectural field who got transferred from Singapore to the US by company recommendations. Their US working visas were processed immediately. One of the two, who later brought in his family, bumped up his status from working permit to greencard.

From my personal experience, I was expatriated on two different occasions ('88 - about 4 months after finishing college and didn't even show up at graduation march, '92 - by recommendation and experience) but same country (HK). Papers were processed by company lawyers. Went back to Pinas to process POEA papers in less than a week. Few years down the road, got work in US through, again, by recommendations. Papers were taken care of by company lawyers. To cut the story short on all three different companies: I was basically handpicked. How? Networking. Someone else gets paid like a referral agent? Nope.

Go figure the in-betweens. It's a learning experience. The rest is history. :D

[venn123]

hey thats cool bro. so by referral you can also make your way to the us.

I think from the previous post, company transfer means that you moved from a local company to a parent company. Thats how L visa works.

From your own personal experience cool. I agree networking works ... especially if you have the experiene and skills to match.

A few years ago, hmmm sige na nga many years ago I met someone who was recruiting PT and OTs.... thru a friend (networking) and since then we have been friends for the longest time. He has recruited over a thousand pinoys to work abroad... PT, OT, Nurses, IT practioners and Teachers.....
Yup it pays to know but more importantly its better if you have to right skills to match.

[Adroth]

The company-transfer method worked very well for me as well. I used it twice.

I used to work in one of the banks that Metrobank gobbled up in the late 90's. I was originally in the Davao City branch, but I got transferred to the head office in Makati in '98. The move to Makati set the stage for the move overseas.

Shortly before the bank got completely aborbed by "big blue of Philippine banking" I ran into a Jobstreet ad posted by my present company. Our Philippine office was looking for technical writers for the Taiwan office.

My resume almost got thrown out. I came from a provincial school, and my degree wasn't an obvious fit for the job. Happily the company recruitement officer prided himself with being able to find talent in odd places, and took time to give his stack of "on- the-way-to-the-trash" resumes one last look. He later told me that what saved me was the odd-ball project that I undertook to have myself transferred from the branch to the Makati. The first overseas jump was in the bag.

While in Taiwan, I moved from the tech writing department to the training group, where I asked to be considered for transfer to the US office if an opportunity presented itself. Three and half years after moving to Taiwan, a US-based opening became available.

The most interesting paths often aren't straight lines.

[Adroth]

Originally posted by venn123
Thru education Ask Victory or Rabaddal (they ussually post in the education area of pinoyexchange. They were students who took up their MBA in the US... Wharton i think. Victory is working/studying PHD still in the US. These people would know a lot more on this topic.

Roger that. Thanks.

[Adroth]

Have you guys heard of anyone who moved overseas directly from the provinces (Cebu and Davao City included)? Or are recruitment agencies and nursing jobs the only avenue open to people outside the capital?

[sayuri_succubus]

OFW, OCW. Potato, Poteyto.

[shockattack]

hey sa mga direct/name hires dito, did you have to go to POEA pa ba? my problem would be kasi that my employer might not be able to have my employment contract authenticated pa by the nearest philippine consulate in their location because it's still too far/too much of a hassle. eh diba required by the POEA na authenticated yung contract? one more thing, i think my visa will probably be business visa first. since business visa not work visa, dadaan nga pa ba talaga sa POEA?

[Adroth]

Check this out: http://www.poea.gov.ph/html/FAQ.html

I was able to secure a work visa from a foreign country. Do I need to go through POEA for processing of my documents? What are the requirements?

Yes, you need to have your documents processed at POEA. A visa merely allows entry into another country. It does not specify the terms and conditions of work for a particular employer. Name hires or Filipino workers who have found jobs on their own should have their documents processed at POEA. The requirements are the following: passport, work visa or work permit, employment contract verified or authenticated by the Philippine embassy or Philippine consulate in the country of your destination. You are also required to undergo a medical examination by a DOH-accredited clinic or hospital and a pre-departure orientation seminar.

What are the costs and how much?

If you are a name-hired worker, these are the costs:

POEA Processing Fee - US$100 or its peso equivalent
OWWA membership fee - US$25 or its peso equivalent
OWWA Medicare - P900.00

[Adroth]

OFW, OCW. Potato, Poteyto.

This proves my point. A lot of Filipinos are confused, and are content to remain confused because they choose not to educate themselves.

[radianLB]

Adroth:
do you know time the name "overseas filipino worker" was first used? if you don't, then will you agree with me that the name was just used very recently? (early 90's)

[radianLB]

Adroth again:
Correct me if i'm wrong, you said that ocw's have restricted freedom and/or earn less money, while ofw's are treated like kings by their employers. am i right? so you equate ofw with more money and ocw with less money.
the name "overseas contract worker" became ugly after filipinos started to feel the abuses of their foreign employers. we are being treated like animals in some countries. there are a ton of documented cases where ocw's are being beaten up, raped, and even murdered. they leave their families with sadness in their hearts but are hoping to give them a better future when they return, instead they come back as a burden to their families because some of them lost their minds and went crazy because of loneliness and the abuses.
now the government has seen what was happening to us and has acted on it. they feel that the name "ocw" has no identity. they see that a filipino worker being labeled as an ocw makes him feel like a used rag, after being used for a certain period it is just thrown to the garbage. that is why we now call ocw's as "overseas filipino workers" or ofw's. in fact the govt went a little further by calling them as "bagong bayani". calling them as ofw's gives them identity. calling them as ofws tells their employers that they are filipinos that should be treated with respect and dignity. they are not just individuals that you pay to work and dispose of after they're done. no! calling them as ofws tells their employers that if you harm one filipino worker, you harm all filipinos.
the government never intentioned the name ofw to be given to filipinos who earn big salaries abroad. no! the name ofw is given to all filipinos working abroad.
just because you earn more money and enjoy more benefits than the others doesnt entitle you the name ofw. now i know why you want to be called as an ofw, and those working in poor conditions as ocws. you dont want to be associated with them. you're like a filipino who feels like he's a kastila just because he's fair skinned. you want the title all by yourself. you are a very greedy person.
go to the poea website and check if they still use the name ocw, or if they label those pathetic saps working in inhuman conditions as ocws and label workers like you your highness, you bigtime bigshot expat who earns big bucks as ofws. i bet you'll be surprised (and dissapointed as well).

[shockattack]

Check this out: http://www.poea.gov.ph/html/FAQ.html
Name hires or Filipino workers who have found jobs on their own should have their documents processed at POEA. The requirements are the following: passport, work visa or work permit, employment contract verified or authenticated by the Philippine embassy or Philippine consulate in the country of your destination. You are also required to undergo a medical examination by a DOH-accredited clinic or hospital and a pre-departure orientation seminar.

thanks for the info. hmmm but i am still really unsure if i have to go to POEA pa because i might be getting a business visa nga, while according to this work visa lang yata ang pinoprocess sa POEA. anyone can confirm this? as i also said i doubt if i could get my contract authenticated pa, are they strict about this rin?

mayroon ba dito na direct/name hire na di na dumaan ng POEA? nakaalis naman ba kayo and nakarating sa inyong destination without a hitch? gastos din kasi kung dadaan pa sa POEA :lol: (although of course you're more protected, given the accident benefits etc.).

[Adroth]

the government never intentioned the name ofw to be given to filipinos who earn big salaries abroad. no! the name ofw is given to all filipinos working abroad.

All OCWs are OFWs, but not all OFWs are OCWs.

now i know why you want to be called as an ofw, and those working in poor conditions as ocws.

Think what you want.

The truth of the matter is, the reason I seek to make this distinction is to highlight the presence of alternatives to being charged an arm and a leg by recruitment agencies.

May this thread benefit those who do not take offense. For those that do, then I leave you to your throughts.

[Adroth]

nakaalis naman ba kayo and nakarating sa inyong destination without a hitch?

I know of many name hires who never bothered with POEA.

[radianLB]

All OCWs are OFWs, but not all OFWs are OCWs.

Really?? says who, you?? think again buddy!

[Adroth]

Really?? says who, you??

Try the government. If all OFWs were the same, then why come up with the term "name hire"?

Chill out RLB.

[radianLB]

Try the government. If all OFWs were the same, then why come up with the term "name hire"?

Chill out RLB.
the government? really? i went to the poea website and it never says that OCWs cant be considered as OFWs.
can you specify a website/book/article that says OCWs are not OFWs also?
then tell me what is the definition of a "name hire"? specify your source.

[floreno]

Dati kasi...its either OCW ka or Migrant worker ka...

And RECENTLY (mga 90s), Filipinos abroad is generalized as "OFW"

[Tifosi]

I know of many name hires who never bothered with POEA.

True, I didn't bother getting going through POEA processing. For what di ba? The reason I only bothered getting registered with POEA/OWWA when I got here was because of the travel tax and terminal fee exemption hehe. Although where I live now doesn't really require a working visa hehehe ;) And yes, 'All OCWs are OFWs, but not all OFWs are OCWs.'

[green grin]

great thread, adroth. with limited employment opportunities in the philippines, for many it's good to have the option to work abroad available.

i'm neither an OFW or OCW but i'll try to contribute whatever little knowledge i have about acquiring employment abroad. :)

[gratchie]

True, I didn't bother getting going through POEA processing. For what di ba? The reason I only bothered getting registered with POEA/OWWA when I got here was because of the travel tax and terminal fee exemption hehe. Although where I live now doesn't really require a working visa hehehe ;) And yes, 'All OCWs are OFWs, but not all OFWs are OCWs.'


where are you currently working tifosi? Name-hired din kase ako and Im just waiting for my employment pass from singapore so I could buy 1 way ticket. Di ka ba haharangin sa airport/immigration kapag di ka nagregister sa poea? How do you register with poea kung nasa overseas ka na? tnx

[lupin]

better process it while you're still in manila. the immigration officer in naia randomly checks it and i'm sure you wouldn't like the inconvenience that could happen.

[Tifosi]

where are you currently working tifosi? Name-hired din kase ako and Im just waiting for my employment pass from singapore so I could buy 1 way ticket. Di ka ba haharangin sa airport/immigration kapag di ka nagregister sa poea? How do you register with poea kung nasa overseas ka na? tnx

Hi Gratchie, currently working in SG. Nung pumunta ako dito, tourist lang ako kasi I only had an in-principle approval of the EP. I didn't bother to register with POEA kasi I'm too lazy to do it, at ayoko ma-hassle. Di naman ako hinarang, may kasama pang ngiti from the officer hehehe, joke:lol: Pero if you really want to do so while you're still in Manila, punta ka sa POEA first thing in the morning. Tapos, nagparegister lang ako sa embassy dito, kasi I wanted to get an exemption from paying a travel tax and terminal fee.

[gratchie]

^^tifosi, in-principle approval lang hawak mo tsaka one way ticket pwede na yun?

[bi0hazard]

gratchie, singit lang... hindi pwede yun, hahanapan ka ng poea registration. kung wala ka mapakita (kahit may approval letter ka), return ticket hahanapin sayo.

punta ka na lang dun as tourist, buy a roundtrip "tourist" ticket, valid for 8 or so days. its about the same price as a 1-way ticket.

[Dunedain]

Oh, who cares what the difference or similarities of OFW or OCW? So long as they were hired to work outside the country legally (and earning more than what they get or will get or used to get back in Pinas) - it's all good.

[gratchie]

gratchie, singit lang... hindi pwede yun, hahanapan ka ng poea registration. kung wala ka mapakita (kahit may approval letter ka), return ticket hahanapin sayo.

punta ka na lang dun as tourist, buy a roundtrip "tourist" ticket, valid for 8 or so days. its about the same price as a 1-way ticket.

e kase yung employer naman ang bibili ng tiket ko pero 1way lang ang bibilhin nila.... gano ba katagal processing sa poea? I have to leave by oct17 e

[bi0hazard]

e kase yung employer naman ang bibili ng tiket ko pero 1way lang ang bibilhin nila.... gano ba katagal processing sa poea? I have to leave by oct17 e

sila ba bibili sa sing side and then pickup mo sa isang travel agency sa manila or ikaw bibili dyan sa manila and then reimburse ka nila when you get here? kasi same price lang ang 1 way and round trip "tourist" class na ticket, mas mura pa nga ata ang tourist ticket. kung di talaga kaya at di mo sila mapapabili ng ganon, no choice ka kungdi dumaan sa poea. sa check-in pa lang sitahin ka na tapos no way immigration will let you leave without a poea reg OR a return ticket.

sabi nila 3 days lang daw processing, may medical pa ata. pero knowing govt di ko sure kung more hehehe. to those who had their papers processed by poea, gano ba katagal?

[gratchie]

sila bibili sa sing side then bibigyan nalang ako ng electronic ticket. same thing happened when they invited me for the interview.

yep, may medical pa nga... about 10kpesos din ang magagastos pa.... I guess I have to comply with poea pa, haaayyyy

[gratchie]

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[gratchie]

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