DOLE to lift suspension order in processing OECs for OFWs

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to finally lift tomorrow its suspension order in the processing of overseas employment certificate (OEC) for aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

In a text message, Labor undersecretary Dominador Say said they will be releasing a new advisory later lifting DOLE’s Department Order No. 185, series of 2017 to allow the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to resume processing new OECs.

Read about 15 days temporary suspension of overseas employment certificates

An OEC is a requirement for Filipinos so they could work abroad.

“The OEC processing will automatically resume, but we would have to release the advisory for it tomorrow (Dec. 4),” Say said.

But even with the lifting of DO 185, their probe on the alleged irregularities in the issuance of OEC within POEA is still ongoing.

“Our investigation will still continue until we identify all the people involved in the illegal activity,” Say said.

Last month, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued DO 185 after receiving reports some POEA personnel are acting as accomplices of unscrupulous recruiters.

During the suspension period, which took effect from Nov. 13 to Dec. 1, POEA conducted an internal investigation to weed out its erring staff.

About 40 POEA security guards and janitors were dismissed by POEA based on the initial results of its inquiry. It also resulted in a major revamp within the attached agency of DOLE.

POEA earlier estimated DO 185 would affect around 75,000 aspiring OFWs. – Manila Bulletin