1. For Filipino workers who:

• Are already working in New Zealand and will be going to the Philippines for a holiday or are already in the Philippines for a holiday;
• Already had OECs processed under Balik Manggagawa (BM) Online System when they last departed the Philippines; and
• Are returning to the same employer and jobsite.

You may acquire exemption through your BM Online Account but be remined to update your OWWA Membership which is valid for two years from the date of payment. OWWA Membership fee may be paid through POLO Australia or in OWWA Offices in the Philippines.

2. For Filipino workers who:

• Are already working in New Zealand and will be going to the Philippines for a holiday or are already in the Philippines for a holiday;
• Either did not have any OECs when they last left the Philippines or had previous OECs processed under Name Hire/Direct Hire or under BM Online with a different employer; and
• Are currently employed in New Zealand and will be returning to the same recent employer and jobsite.

Please contact the Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Canberra (POLO Canberra) at their email address: poloaustralia@philembassy.org.au and send a copy of your employment contract, copy of your passport bio-page, and a copy of your visa. Please make sure that your contract of employment has met the minimum standards required by POEA Regulations in employing Filipino Workers especially the provision on repatriation shouldered by the employer in case of worker’s death or serious illness. Kindly indicate in your email that you are in the process of securing your OEC under Balik Manggagawa Program in POEA. POLO Canberra will respond to your query with the next steps that you need to take to process your OEC in the Philippines.

NOTE:

This process is only for returning OFWs to New Zealand. If the Filipino worker is still in the Philippines and has not yet worked in New Zealand, the worker will need to process the OEC with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Further queries may be made with POLO Canberra at their email address: poloaustralia@philembassy.org.au or at their contact number: +61-2-6273-8882.