Philipines embassy employment contract - need agency or not?

[nakatago]

Hello your missing the point, she's already been employed and between contract renewal she has a work permit.

Actually, you are missing/have missed the whole point. The PBI doesn't care whether she's got a work permit or not. If they "want" to bounce her, they will and there is SFA anybody can do about it. Nobody is saying that they will, but there's too many times that it has happened. She's not being prevented from going to the Philippines so once she steps foot on Philippines soil, she is no longer under Singapore's jurisdiction, holding a work permit or not, full stop. She is then at the mercy of the Philippines government.

I find it quite remarkable that that not one of you on this thread have helped the OP get her maid out of Singapore!

Nakatago:@ksl, like I said. You don't argue with someone who doesn't use logic.
Don't bring a knife into a magic spells fight.

What happens in the Philippines hardly matters at this stage, the emergency is in the Philippines right! What barriers the Philippines government have implemented against maids is hardly the fault of the employer.

Or lets put it another way, by the time SMS and others figure it out, the emergency is over Do you really believe an experienced maid isn't aware of the risks,

Anyway lets hope that she is already in the Philippines while you all run around with excuses why it's not safe for her to return I'm sure you have helped her make her own mind up, that's for sure.

And Nakatago lets be truthful, if you had an emergency back in the Philippines how are you going to deal with it immediately not next week? Advise the woman instead of trying to rumble what i say. Though it does appear the OP is trying to circumvent the agency to do the contract with the embassy, it doesn't stop the maid returning in an emergency.

If the OP wants to employ her with the embassy contract, there is still no reason why it cannot be done, after she has left to attend the emergency if it means following the protocol so what! Isn't the priority the emergency here.

Like what SMS, all I'm saying is that the Bureau of Immigration tend to powertrip which can make it difficult for any overseas Filipino worker to leave the Philippines to return to their country of residence. I've forked off the main topic but I never trailed off very far when I did.

You want to know what I'll do in an emergency? I'll freakin' use an emergency leave, book my freakin' ticket back home and rush to the embassy to get that freakin' OEC telling them it's an emergency and I need that OEC in a jiffy. I'm a 'professional' so the embassy people will most probably take my word it, aside from having a good track record. And in an emergency, I don't just go off barging into the site. I keep a clear head and gather the information that I need, then I go off charging.

What about a maid? I don't know--never had one, never had second hand information about having one that's why I never made any claim that I have information on the procedure. All I said was just follow the whatever procedure the embassy gives. It may not make sense--which is most of the time, but just follow them and get it over with. What I'm saying is the possible hurdles any overseas Filipino worker of any pay grade may most likely encounter when leaving the Philippines.

You want first hand information from a maid? Look for maidinsing; it's times like this that we need her experience real bad. In her absence, all I could say is just freakin' call up the embassy, tell them that it's an emergency, ask them what is needed so the maid go back home and be able to return without immigration hassling her.

[nakatago]

Are you white by any chance?

? would that matter ??

Although a PM has already been sent and just to settle this, this is Southeast Asia--and especially for Filipinos. Whether white people like it or not, there is a bias for them. Colonial mentality, we calls it. (Unless of course, you run into an activist and then the white person would be called an imperialist.)

That's all.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I hate that that exists still to this day, but I'm also not above using it if it can cut through lots of red tape either.

[nakatago]

I'm also not above using it if it can cut through lots of red tape either.

With great power comes great opportunity, er, responsibility: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GaijinSmash

[ecureilx]

Frankly, all immigration officers are the same around the world, they are demi-gods who have more power than any other governmental organization in the government, with only one exception, the Revenue department. I shared an office in International Plaza with the head of US Immigration back in 88-91. I know how much power they wield.

I beg to disagree .. Phil Immigration, possibly, from my experience, eats Indian Immigration, in nit-picking visitors and fellow countrymen .. equally

And as I said, the PBI has set a target to stop x number of people and proclaim that they were possibly trafficking victims ..

And lack of employment agent, lack of POEA paperwork, lack of home leave approval, in their eyes, equates to a trafficked victim .. not that it matters that 99% of the real trafficked victims know the real deal when they sign up .. like the drug smugglers - but, hey, who is gonna listen to them vs PBI -when PBI says you are trafficked, you are trafficked.

Reminds me of a friend of mine, who is a Med Specialist, was stopped in Manila airport and immigration has demanded to see her 'leave form', and was insisting that she was gonna go overseas and disappear .. and when she had said if she is migrating what gives: PBI has an answer ; apparently there is a course / program to teach new filipino migrants and to engage them on life overseas .. etc.

She let them rant for a while before pulling out her own med center name card which states that She is the owner, and had asked "so who will approve my own leave ?? "

A minute of confusion and then PBI has said "ok, sorry for the trouble ma'am, we are just doing our duty"

Now, if they can wreak this kind of havoc on an educated person .. guess what they can do on a maid .. !!!

Good luck ..

[morenangpinay]

http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/labor/hsw/oec/

if the domestic helper has been with the employer for a consecutive period of 2 yrs you dont need an agency to process the authentication of contract. Other requirements for the Overseas Employment Certificate are in the website
if they are in a hurry, there is nothing wrong in telling the Embassy staff the emergency and they might accommodate your request to speed it up. (You could try but im not saying it would happen

anyway just like other Filipinos i also bitch about the OEC but what can we do. I understand this is needed to minimize human trafficking. No one is allowed to be directly hired and agencies in the Philippines have to obtain a license.

And it is important to get the OEC because the domestic helper will not be allowed to exit Philippines. Singapore laws do not apply in Philippines and they do not recognize the validity of the Work Permit. They need to get the OEC as proof the conditions of the Philippines for employing Domestic workers overseas are being followed.

i hope that helps.

[ecureilx]

if the domestic helper has been with the employer for a consecutive period of 2 yrs you dont need an agency to process the authentication of contract. Other requirements for the Overseas Employment Certificate are in the website

My 2 cents says, from past experience, NO CAN DO.

if they are in a hurry, there is nothing wrong in telling the Embassy staff the emergency and they might accommodate your request to speed it up. (You could try but im not saying it would happen

My next 2 cents still say, STILL NO CAN DO .. the Embassy seems to be hell bent on the 'notarisation' income, so much so I think they have a quota to fill

anyway just like other Filipinos i also bitch about the OEC but what can we do. I understand this is needed to minimize human trafficking. No one is allowed to be directly hired and agencies in the Philippines have to obtain a license.

And it is important to get the OEC because the domestic helper will not be allowed to exit Philippines. Singapore laws do not apply in Philippines and they do not recognize the validity of the Work Permit. They need to get the OEC as proof the conditions of the Philippines for employing Domestic workers overseas are being followed.

i hope that helps.

No comments .. the only positive part of the OEC I see constantly is, those without OEC are referred to Agents, and in turn, even those maids who work a direct contract end up being forced to have an agent, and in turn, end up minus 3 months to 6 months salary as 'deduction .. '

[nakatago]

if the domestic helper has been with the employer for a consecutive period of 2 yrs you dont need an agency to process the authentication of contract. Other requirements for the Overseas Employment Certificate are in the website

My 2 cents says, from past experience, NO CAN DO.

if they are in a hurry, there is nothing wrong in telling the Embassy staff the emergency and they might accommodate your request to speed it up. (You could try but im not saying it would happen

My next 2 cents still say, STILL NO CAN DO .. the Embassy seems to be hell bent on the 'notarisation' income, so much so I think they have a quota to fill

anyway just like other Filipinos i also bitch about the OEC but what can we do. I understand this is needed to minimize human trafficking. No one is allowed to be directly hired and agencies in the Philippines have to obtain a license.

And it is important to get the OEC because the domestic helper will not be allowed to exit Philippines. Singapore laws do not apply in Philippines and they do not recognize the validity of the Work Permit. They need to get the OEC as proof the conditions of the Philippines for employing Domestic workers overseas are being followed.

i hope that helps.

No comments .. the only positive part of the OEC I see constantly is, those without OEC are referred to Agents, and in turn, even those maids who work a direct contract end up being forced to have an agent, and in turn, end up minus 3 months to 6 months salary as 'deduction .. '

I'd just like to add that they will now be enforcing mandatory contribution to the PAG-IBIG fund (an acronym for a CPF-like system) as a prerequisite to the oh-so-welcome OEC.

[morenangpinay]

since the OP said he had a contract but ran out a few months ago..means there is a contract which was already authenticated which he can renew.

Requirements for the authenticated Employment Contract:

* Two (2) copies of Standard Employment Contract (Original) – All pages of the contract should be signed by the employer and the worker.
* Two (2) copies of Undertaking of an Employer (Original)
* Two (2) copies of Work Permit (plus 1 copy for passport renewal)
* Two (2) copies of Passport (plus 1 copy for passport renewal)
* One (1) copy of Employer’s IC
* Seven Thousand Singapore Dollars (S$7,000.00) Performance Bond from a reputable Insurance Company (Original)
* One (1) copy of the Ten Thousand Dollar Medical Insurance (MOM)

Renewal of Employment Contract Only – S$104.50

* Authentication of Contract – S$42.50
* Verification – S$20.00
* OWWA – $42.00

for what its worth, i process my OEC for a whole day. So if you are really going to process this on your own, you must dedicate one day to finish it.

ecureilx im beginning to think you are from an agency or something.

FAQ from the embassy:

How long will it take to process an OEC?

During ordinary days (not peak season) 5 to 10 minutes, provided the documentary requirements are complete.

Can a household service worker apply directly with the embassy to secure an OEC, without passing thru Singapore agent (SinAgent)?

Yes, provided she has a valid employment contract processed by the Philippine Embassy, in addition to other documentary requirements stated above.

[morenangpinay]

http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/forms/ there are forms here for download if you need the contracts, job orders, etc.

For your information, there are also some Filipinos who have applied for an OEC in the Philippines. Although I heard it is more tedious and red tape on top of red tape processes. But I wouldn't recommend that for Household workers because they have a more stringent requirements.

[ecureilx]

ecureilx im beginning to think you are from an agency or something.

me ?? Agency ??? No .. I am just a poor employer who was fortunate to have been exposed all kinds of paperwork .. in my past employ of maids ..

And nor did I attempt to promote any agency .. my beef is with the endless paperwork and whatever, for a simple document, plus a whole day wasted .. for what it is worth, I have no clue ..

No ma'am (I assume you are a lady .. ) ... I ain't no agent .. and nowhere did I claim to be one, in my 900 odd posts since i joined ..







Should I demand a retraction of your accusation ?? : D

[ecureilx]

http://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/forms/ there are forms here for download if you need the contracts, job orders, etc.

For your information, there are also some Filipinos who have applied for an OEC in the Philippines. Although I heard it is more tedious and red tape on top of red tape processes. But I wouldn't recommend that for Household workers because they have a more stringent requirements.

You keep forgetting the main accusation of mine, that the whole process is to 'bleed' the maids off 3 to 6 months salary .. as, no agent, no paperwork etc. etc ..

Now, if I was an agency, do you think I will express such sentiments ???

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sure, if you though you could corner the market!

[ecureilx]

Sure, if you though you could corner the market!

Ah, come on .. what market if I am preaching that agents should not charge money for the placement ?? Or the law should make the employer pay ..

Oh .. you mean, I will be the remnant of a war and will have the market of zero profit for me to monopolise ?? : D

I like your thinking ..

[morenangpinay]

Im not expert on the law in Singapore but I remember Philippine laws allow agents in the Philippines to charge an equivalent of 1 month salary. Not more.

however they do not have any control on the Singapore manpower agents who may (I am not sure of this) or may not be charging the Employers air fare,visa fare, processing fees etc. on top of their agency fee.So i am guessing that the employers are being charged double..? which they then pass to the worker which result to the worker having debt in the Philippines (Philippine agency) and the debt in Singapore . you can enlighten me on that.