04 July 2007

FILIPINOS holding 456 AND 457 Visas Advised to comply with POEA's Balik-Manggagawa (Worker-on_Leave) Requirement upon returning to Australia from the Philippines

SYDNEY (04 July 2007)- The Philippine Consulate General Sydney advises all Filipino holders of 456-and-457 visas (Short and long-term business stay visas) to comply with the requirements for Balik-Manggagawa (Worker-On-Leave-WOL) set by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) when departing from the Philippines to resume work in Australia with the same employer.

The POEA explained that since Australian visas-456 and 457 are business visas “issued to skilled professionals and traders (who) work under contract for a specific period, (the) fact that their master employment contracts are authenticated/ verified by the Philippine Embassy in Canberra or the Consulate in Sydney, Australia (indicates) that they are ‘contract workers’”.

As a general rule, an overseas Filipino worker-on-leave who is returning to the same employer shall be processed under the Balik-Manggagawa arrangement and be issued an Exit Clearance/E-Receipt/Overseas Employment Certificate by the POEA. The POEA clarification now covers those Filipinos with business or visit visas issued but similar employment-related conditions, as the Australian case shows.

The following are the documentary requirements for the issuance of the Exit Clearance/E-receipt/Overseas Employment Certificate:

1. Valid Philippine Passport;
2. Valid Australian Visa;
3. OFW Information Sheet;
4. Any documentary proof that the OFW is returning to the same employer.

The following fees (in Philippine pesos) apply:

1. POEA Processing Fee PhP 100.00 per set
2. Philhealth Premium per annum PhP 900.00
3. OWWA Membership contribution per contract duration PhP 1,275.00

The Exit Clearance/E-Receipt/OEC will serve as the worker’s exemption from payment of Travel Tax and Terminal Fee and will be submitted to the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Airport. The Labor Assistance Center (LAC) monitors the deployment of all OFWs by validating a copy of the said document.

The worker may secure the Exit Clearance/E-Receipt/OEC at any of the following:

1. Balik-Manggagawa Processing Center- POEA Service Area
POEA Main Office, Blas F. Ople Bldg., Ortigas Ave. cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City
Tel. no. (632) 721-0785
Fax no. (632) 724-6342

2. POEA Regional Centers/ Regional Extension Units (REUs);
3. POEA-Deputized OWWA Regional Offices and Units;
4. In the absence of a Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Australia, other POLOs in selected Philippine Embassies and Consulates; or
5. Through the services of other available facilities in the Philippines for the issuance of POEA Exit Clearance such as the Teleserv Express Delivery System or the Multiple Travel Exit Clearance (MTEC).

For further details on the Balik-Manggagawa, please refer to the POEA Weblink at:

www.poea.gov.ph/html/balik.html

The OFWs are advised to comply with the requirements prior to their return to Australia to avoid inconvenience at Philippine international airports upon departure. END