OEC Will No Longer Be Needed – Replaced by iDOLE OFW ID Card

Move over OEC, here comes the OFW ID card.

OFWs are no longer required to acquire the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), this has been replaced by iDOLE identification card also known as OFW ID. The ID will be provided for free to all registered OFWs in POEA.

As of today it is not clear when and where to claim the id, but DOLE thru Secretary Bello said that OFW ID production will start August 2017. The official launch of this new identification system exclusive for OFWs will be this coming July 12, 2017.

Uses and Benefits of the OFW IDs

1. Can be used as a valid primary ID for transaction with government offices and agencies.
2. An online portal will be provided to OFWs and they can use their ID to request for services, check records and documents in government offices.
3. Can be used as an ATM Debit card once the OFW bank is established.
4. Can be used as a BEEP card to ride the LRT and MRT.
5. *Might be used as a valid ePassport for OFWs in the future.

What to look forward to in the next months?

1. OFW Bank will be established to cater to the needs of OFWs in banking, saving money. Projected to happen this coming October 2017.

*We will share info on OFW bank account opening requirements, minimum deposit amount to open account, types of accounts that an OFW can open, interest rates, personal loan or ofw home loan, among others.

2. More branches of the OSSCO to serve more Filipinos away from major cities. This is the One Stop Shop Center for OFWs to facilitate processing of government documents.

Those who will leave the Philippines to work abroad this July and August 2017 who have not receive their OFW yet, please coordinate directly with DOLE to follow-up and to ask if you still need to get an OEC since the ID is not yet given to you.

The OFW ID or iDOLE card will be given to Filipinos who are currently working abroad and who are about to go abroad to work and who are DULY REGISTERED with POEA. Undocumented workers may not be allowed to have the OFW ID Card.

We will update this post as more details come in especially on when a departing OFW can get the ID and where to claim it, and if it is possible for OFWs to get an ID if they are already outside the country and are not registered with POEA. Please stay tune for updates.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for job hiring for OFW this 2017, check the latest job postings on this website. A current job vacancy may fit you.