GUIDELINES ON THE DIRECT HIRING OF DOMESTIC WORKERS (HOUSEHOLD SERVICE WORKERS)

Direct hiring of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is governed by Article 18 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 10022, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Administrative Order No. 196, Series of 2018, and the Revised Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers of 2016.

BAN ON DIRECT HIRING OF FILIPINO WORKERS

The above-mentioned laws and regulations prohibit the direct-hiring of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Any employer intending to hire an OFW is, therefore, required to recruit through POEA-accredited/licensed employment/recruitment agencies.

POEA Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2018 (click here for a copy) enumerates certain categories of employers who are exempted from the ban on direct hiring; and provides guidelines on the registration of direct hires with POEA.

EMPLOYERS EXEMPTED FROM THE BAN ON DIRECT HIRING OF DOMESTIC WORKERS

The following employers of domestic workers are exempted from the ban on direct hiring of domestic workers:

A. Members of the diplomatic corps
B. Heads of state and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister; or
C. Those provided in A and B above who bear a lesser rank, if endorsed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO); 

STEPS AND REQUIREMENTS ON THE REGISTRATION OF DIRECT-HIRES

Employer

1. Request for appointment through THIS LINK.

2. Come to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) of the Philippine Embassy (Singapore) through  and submit the following documents for verification:

A.  Original signed Standard Employment Contract for Domestic Workers. Please click here to download the Standard Employment Contract;

B.  Original signed Undertaking of Employer. Please click here to download the Undertaking;

C.  Photocopy of valid work permit or IPA;

D. Photocopy of data page of passport of worker valid for at least six months from the intended date of departure from the Philippines;

E. Photocopy of any valid identification of employer; and

F. Payment of SG$17.00 (cash only)

3. Collect the verified documents together with POLO endorsement letter from the Philippine Embassy on the indicated date of collection. 

4. Send the verified documents to the worker being directly hired in the Philippines.

Worker

1. Proceed to the Direct Hire Assistance Division of the POEA and submit the following documents:

A.  Verified original employment contract;
B.  Passport valid at least six (6) months before the date of intended departure from the Philippines;
C.  Valid work permit or IPA;
D.  Certificate of medical fitness to work from a DOH-accredited medical clinic for OFWs;
E.  Proof of certificate of insurance coverage covering at least the benefits provided under Section 37-A of Republic Act 8042 as amended;
F.  TESDA Skill Certification equivalent to National Certificate II (NCII) or higher;
G.  Notarized statement by the worker on how the employment was secured, attaching the photocopy of the employer’s passport/ID and contact details;
H.  Certificate of attendance to the Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS); and
I.  Certificate of attendance to the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP).