TO ALL FILIPINO WORK VISA HOLDERS IN NEW ZEALAND

It has come to the attention of the Philippine Embassy and its Overseas Labour Office (POLO) that many work visa holders have gone into buying insurance for the purpose of complying with a requirement for POLO verification of their Employment Contract merely to secure an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC); and that upon obtaining an OEC, these workers would allegedly discontinue their insurance coverage.

Under POEA rules and regulations, OFWs returning to New Zealand (also called Balik-Manggagawa) may present an insurance policy in lieu of the Addendum to the Employment Contract, in order to secure an OEC. The policy should cover, among others, repatriation of the worker to the Philippines in case of death or serious injury at the worksite, as stipulated in the Addendum but which an employer may refuse to sign.

For information and proper guidance in looking for an insurance that is compliant with the above requirement, you are advised to make sure the product being offered explicitly states such coverage in the policy. An insured’s “Will” accompanying the insurance policy would be ideal.

If your present insurance policy meets the above feature, keeping it active by paying your premiums regularly and promptly would be to your best interest as long as you are a migrant worker in New Zealand. It should provide you and your loved ones with the peace of mind for which insurance products are actually made and meant to provide.