• My wife’s recruitment agency wants us to pay 50 thousand pesos as placement fee. Is this legal?

-          The legal placement fee to be collected by licensed recruitment agencies from applicants for overseas jobs must be equivalent to one month salary of the worker as stipulated in the employment contract. The amount, however, does not include documentation and processing costs.

-          Documentation costs include fees for passport, NBI/Police clearance, medical examinations, medicare premium, trade tests, authentication, birth certificate. Processing costs include visa, POEA processing fee, and OWWA membership fee to be paid by the employer.

•        Our company wants to hire Filipino workers for our overseas projects. What are the requirements before we can recruit the workers?

-          Only entities licensed by the Department of Labor and Employment through the Philippine Overseas Employ­ment Administration may recruit Filipino workers for employment overseas. A foreign company may therefore hire Filipino workers by engaging the services of a licensed recruitment agency in the Philippines.

•        My husband is an OFW My children and I want to go to the place where he is work­ing. Do we have to pay for the travel tax?

-          The family of an overseas Filipino worker may avail of a reduced travel tax when they go abroad while the OFW has an existing employment contract. The reduced travel tax certificate is issued by the Department of Tourism. Call (02) 524-7141 loc. 109 or visit them at the Ground Floor, Room 117, Revenue Depart­ment, Department of Tourism Building, T.M. Kalaw, Malate, Manila.

•        My son wants to withdraw his application from an agency because it has failed to deploy him after so many months now. Can we claim for reimbursement of my expenses?

-          Yes, you can claim for reimbursement of placement fee, documentation and processing expenses from the agency if deployment did not happen without your fault. You may file an administrative case against the recruitment agency through POEA’s Legal Assistance Division.

•        My wife’s contract was for 2 years but my employer dismissed her after 3 months of work. Can we sue for breach of contract and claim for unpaid wages.  Where shall I file the case?

-          You may sue your employer and its agent if you were dismissed without valid reasons. Money arising from employer-employee relationship such as unpaid wages, breach of contract or illegal dismissal may be filed with the Migrant Worker’s Desk of the National Labor Relations Commission in Quezon City or in NLRC’s Regional Arbitration Branch in the region you reside.

•        My husband is spending his vacation in the Philippines and will go back employer  after one month. Does he have to go through POEA processing again?

-          No, he need not go through the whole process again. The employer and employment contra already verified. As a returning overseas Filipino worker or “balik-manggagawa” all that needs to I Is secure an overseas employment certificate (OEC) at the POEA Balik-Manggagawa Processing I regional centers and satellite offices and some Philippine Overseas Labor Offices to enable OFWs to the country again and avail of the same privileges such as exemption from travel tax and airport fee.

•        I was hired as a consultant in facilitating the documentation of immigrant being recruited for employment in US hospitals. Do we have to secure a license for the with immigrant workers?

-          Yes, you need to secure a license from POEA if your immigration consultancy and other similar en- not limit your assistance to processing and facilitation in the issuance of immigrant visa but will engage in the recruitment and placement of workers, whether on worker’s visa or employment-based immigration visa, without a license or authority issued by POEA, you shall be subjected to prosecution for illegal recruitment  and such other appropriate action as may be necessary pursuant to the pertinent provision RA 8042 and its implementing rules and regulation (MC #10).

Source: www.poea.gov.ph

Technorati Tags: Ofw Frequently Asked Questions

It was the first time that Enchanted Kingdom held a Hug A Palooza event to all lovers and for the family to come together and express the love thru a simple hug. Indeed a hug goes a long way.

Hug your family and your special someone today.

Special Thanks to Mikco of Enchanted Kingdom and Azrael for the invite.

]]> http://www.globalofw.com/ofw-tips/hug-a-palooza-at-enchanted-kingdom/feed 0 http://www.globalofw.com/ofw-tips/the-search-for-overseas-jobs http://www.globalofw.com/ofw-tips/the-search-for-overseas-jobs#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:12:18 +0000 admin http://www.globalofw.com/?p=306 A lot of Filipinos are searching for overseas jobs. They are looking for overseas jobs or employment abroad to help their families back home and provide a better life for their families. Such is the great sacrifice of the millions of overseas Filipino workers around the world.

In the recent Philippine statistics assessment it indicates that there are about 9-10 million overseas Filipino workers around world. Overseas Filipino Workers or Ofw’s are among the top foreign workers in the world. Ofw’s can be found in medical centers, hospitals, computer companies, oil production companies, technical and computer based companies and other service-oriented institutions like hotels and resorts. One of the well known ofw’s are the Filipino seafarers. They are one of the best if not the best in the world because of their skills, english proficiency and hospitality.

Ofw’s work as engineers, doctors, nurses, caregivers, seaferers. Some work overseas as dairy farmers, household helpers, technicians, and as blue collar workers. They are of great demand abroad because of the overseas Filipino’s worker unparalleled work ethics – they are known as persevering, hard working, hospitable and loyal employees.

We at GLOBALOFW.COM salutes the Overseas Filipino Workers around the world for the sacrifices they have made for their families and for their country. It’s no easy thing to be thousands of miles away from your loved ones. It’s not easy to be in a country who’s cultures and traditions are different than yours. That’s why we make it a point to help those Filipino’s who wants to be an overseas Filipino worker and those who are already ofw’s to have the necessary information so that they can save money for their loved ones and lead better lives.

Technorati Tags: ofw, Ofws, overseas jobs

Below is the list of official 2010 Philippine holidays and long-weekends for the year 2010 based on Proclamation 1841:

DECLARING THE REGULAR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAYS, AND SPECIAL HOLIDAY (FOR ALL SCHOOLS) FOR THE YEAR 2010:

* January 1 (Fri)      – New Year’s Day (five-day long weekend from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3)
* February 22 (Mon) – EDSA Revolution Anniversary
* April 1 (Thu)         – Holy Thursday
* April 2 (Fri)           – Good Friday (four-day long weekend from April 1 to 4)
* April 9 (Fri)           – Araw ng Kagitingan (three-day long weekend from April 9 to 11)
* May 1 (Sat)          – Labor Day
* June 14 (Mon)       – Independence Day (three-day long weekend from June 12 to 14)
* August 23 (Mon)    – Ninoy Aquino Day (three-day long weekend from Aug. 21 to 23)
* August 30 (Mon)    – National Heroes Day (three-day long weekend from Aug. 28 to 30)
* September            – Eid’l Fitr (to be announced, calculated September 10, possible three-day long weekend from September 10 to 12)
* November 1 (Mon) – All Saints Day (three-day long weekend from Oct. 30 to November 1)
* November              – Eid ‘l Adha (to be announced, calculated November 16)
* November 29 (Mon) – Bonifacio Day (three-day long weekend from Nov. 27 to 29)
* December 24 (Fri)   – Non-Working Holiday
* December 25 (Sat)  – Christmas
* December 27 (Mon) – Rizal Day (four-day long weekend from December 24 to 27)
* December 31 (Fri)   – Non-Working Holiday
* January 1  (Sat)     – New Year’s Day (three-day long weekend from December 31 to January 2)

If you book your flights and hotel accommodations ahead of time you can save yourself some serious cash and eliminate the risk of not getting your desired booking date and price. For students, it means a long vacation and no classes. A time for you to call your family abroad and say how much you appreciate them.

What do we need to do and how do we remedy and prevent ourselves from getting sick? Doctors would say, we must wash our hands frequently and stay away from people who are sick so that you would not get any virus or diseases. Doctors would also recommend that we take the right amount of vitamins and minerals. They also recommend to eat the right foods to help our immune system. For those who over extend themselves, the obvious remedy is to take it easy and not work too hard. For who do not do anything, the solution is to do something worthwhile, why not volunteer for a charity or foundation. For those who worry too much, it would be better if you meditate and let go. Some people, who are religious would pray and ask for help. To them it is a good way to release their worries in life. For those who put too much pressure on themselves, it would be a good idea to not to put that much pressure on oneself and to remember that no man is an island.

People can get healed by applying the art of natural healing thru the mental aspect. How does one get healed through it? Research studies have showed that people can be healed much faster if they believe that they will get healed. If they have hope that they will be cured it will enable them to activate the natural healing powers within them. Each one of us has a healing power within us that we only need to search and enable.

Technorati Tags: natural healing, remedy

Their hard work and sacrifice has help the Philippines avoid a recession amidst the global recession, the Philippines has weathered the storm because of the remittances of the millions of  Overseas Filipino Workers. They have helped immensely our country and the economy. In this regard, it is important that the President that will be elected in the upcoming elections will be able to support and address the needs of Ofw’s and their families.

This website was made to help and bring attention to the needs of the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers or Ofw’s around the world. This coming 2010 Philippine elections, Ofw’s have a voice and that voice is their vote. They have a chance to make a difference and voice out their opinions in the upcoming elections. Overseas Filipino Workers deserve a leader the will make a  difference in their lives and the lives of the Filipino people. Now is the time we make a change for the better.

Technorati Tags: 2010 Philippine elections, ofw, Ofws

Skype is the most popular voice communication service in the world.  It has change the way people think about calling long distance abroad and is has broken many barriers to communication. While in the past you needed to take note of the minutes and even the seconds you spend speaking on international calls, you now have a choice. You no longer need to worry about that now. You can use Skype to make PC to PC communication to call your loves and family. You pay nothing more than the monthly Internet or DSL service, which you would anyway have paid without Skype.

Though Skype, it has changed how people communicate with its integration of voice calls and IM (Instant Messaging) into one simple application. You can talk when you want and type when you want and you can switch between the two as you wish, easily and for free.

Skype has excellent voice quality and video, yes that’s video so that OFW’s can not only talk to their love ones and families but also see them and hear them in real time. All you need is a computer and an internet connection and you can talk to your love ones, family and friends for hours for free.

With the use of Skype, Overseas Filipino Workers or Ofw’s and migrants can save thousands of dollars in their telephone bills. With it they will be able to see the faces of their love ones and family and hear their voices for free. It makes the long distance and the holidays more meaningful by bringing families and friends together no matter where they are in the world.

We need to find the strength within to cope and overcome the obstacles in our lives. It is important to not loose faith in ourselves. We should also not loose hope that something better is waiting for us if we only have the courage to reach for it, to work for it and to fight for it. If we do that, then like simple candle light we can light up a dark room. Our hope can brighten up our lives.

According to a number of published books of people who have overcame the odds, once we have found our inner strength, we can overcome the different challenges in our lives. We can face the storm head on and have courage to not just survive but more importantly to come alive in our lives.

References:

1. http://www.dosomething.org/project/teach-under-privilege-kids-how-start-a-small-business

2. http://www.gsueaglenation.com/blog/4436729/The+Eagle+Blog

Technorati Tags: ofw, strength within

Sometimes we only need to look within us for the solutions to our problems may lie within us. We have to find the strength to cope and overcome the obstacles in our lives. As a famous song from the band Journey says: “Dont stop believing“, we have to muster the courage to fight against the odds if we want to win.

It is important to believe in oneself and not loose faith in ourselves. We should not loose hope despite trials in our lives and we should not stop believing that something better is waiting for us if we only have the courage and the will to fight for it, to reach for it and to work for it. If we dont stop believing and do that simple thing, we would be like a candle light that brightens up a dark room.

Our hope can help us overcome the odds. According to a number of success stories of people who have overcame the odds, once we have found hope and our inner strength, we can overcome the different trials in our lives. We can then face any storm head on and have the courage to not just survive but to come alive.

Heroes think of other people first before they think of themselves. Heroes are unique individuals that sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. I have read many news articles and books about how migrants, overseas workers like ofw’s face insurmountable challenges head on with only their faith, hope and determination to carry them thru. They strive hard to ensure that their kids future would be bright and that they would live a life that they have dream of.

What are migrants and overseas workers like ofw made of? They are made up of determination, courage, a risk taking attitude, a heart of gold and a lot more intangibles that make them as everyday heroes to a lot of people. They go beyond their call of duty to help their families, to help their country and sometimes people in need even if it means putting him or herself in danger.

You do not have be an overseas worker like an ofw to be a hero, you are a hero if you sacrifice a part of yourself to help other people who are need. You are a hero if you can make someone else smile despite the trials and challenges they have. You are a hero if you can make others feel better about themselves. If you do that then you are a hero in that person’s heart.

Technorati Tags: hero, heroes, ofw