Contract verification for Filipinos in UAE: How to know if you need it

Published Date: May 5, 2022

A verified employment contract is a prerequisite for the issuance of an Overseas Employment Certificate

PHOTO BY EXPAT MEDIA

Contract verification for Filipinos in UAE: How to know if you need it

DUBAI – Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were not previously registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), or have no existing record of deployment with POEA are required to have their work contract verified.

Expatmedia.net spoke to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO Dubai) in Dubai to explain who needs a verified contract and what makes it important to OFWs.

Update: As of January 2023, POLO Dubai has been renamed Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Dubai and Northern Emirates

What is a verified employment contract and why is it necessary?

A verified employment contract is a prerequisite for the issuance of an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). Without a verified contract, an OFW will not be issued an OEC, which serves as an exit pass at the Philippine airport when he or she returns to his or her workplace abroad.

Who needs a verified contract?

– Documented workers (those who left Philippines on employment visa) returning to the same employer but to a new country
– Undocumented workers who came on tourist visa or visit visa or third country recruitment and then hired on site
– Workers who changed employers on site
– Household service workers

Who does not need a verified contract?

– Documented workers (those who left Philippines on employment visa) vacationing to the Philippines for first time

– Documented workers (those who left Philippines on employment visa) who are returning to the same employer and job site and have an existing POEA record

– Workers with existing POEA records and working for same company but changed position or salary

– Workers with existing POEA records and working for the same company, but company changed or updated its business name (present company trade license as proof)

– Workers with existing POEA records and working for same company but changed from single status to married name (present new and old passport as proof)

Who verifies an OFW’s employment contract?

POLO verifies the employment contract of OFWs who are not previously registered with POEA, or workers with no existing record of deployment with POEA, specifically those who arrived in a country abroad on a visit visa or tourist visa and converted to employment visa. In the UAE, the POLO offices are located next to the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Update: As of January 2023, POLO Dubai has been renamed Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Dubai and Northern Emirates

Is contract verification a UAE requirement?

No. It is a requirement of the Philippine government.

Can you travel to the Philippines without a verified contract?

Yes. However, without a verified contract, the OFW will not be given an OEC. Without an OEC, the OFW may be barred from returning to their job site after visiting the Philippines.

How to verify contract in Dubai

1. Book POLO Dubai appointment for contract verification or OWWA membership

2. On the day of appointment, visit POLO Dubai and bring all necessary documents. As of April 2022, the cost of having an employment contract verified is Dh40. Only cash payments are accepted.

What are the requirements for verified contract?

Update: Starting February 1, 2023, here are the new requirements

FOR UAE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

1. Domestic labour contract or POEA standard employment, with minimum basic salary of Dh1,500, signed by the employer and the worker (2 copies).

The UAE Domestic Labour Contract consists of five pages which include the cover page indicating the names of the sponsor and worker, Preamble, and Articles 1 to 8.

2. Affidavit of Undertaking by the employer (2 copies)

3. Employer’s Information Sheet (2 copies)

4. Current certificate of employment (2 copies)

5. Addendum to the employment contract (2 copies)

6. Valid passport of the employer (2 copies)

7. Valid visa of the employer (2 copies) (for non-Emiratis and those whose visa was issued prior to April 11, 2022); or Valid Emirates ID of the employer (2 copies) (for non-Emiratis and those whose residency visa was issued on April 11, 2022 onwards), whichever is applicable.

8. Valid passport of the worker (2 copies)

9. Valid Visa of the worker (2 copies) (for those whose visa was issued prior to April 11, 2022); or New Emirates ID (2 copies) (for those whose residency visa was issued on April 11, 2022 onwards), whichever is applicable.

**Items 2-5 are downloadable at https://www.polodubaiportal.org/contract-verification

Note: For representatives submitting documents on behalf of the worker or sponsor, an appropriate authorization letter and photocopy of the Emirates ID of the representative will be required.

FOR ALL OTHER FILIPINO EMPLOYEES IN UAE

1. New and Valid Employment Contract which corresponds to your visa duly signed by the employer and the worker (2 copies)

2. Valid Passport of the worker (2 copies)

3. Valid Visa of the worker (2 copies) (for those whose visa was issued prior to April 11, 2022); or New Emirates ID (2 copies) (for those whose residency visa was issued on April 11, 2022 onwards), whichever is applicable.

4. Any proof of current employment (2 copies), such as:
– Current certificate of employment duly stamped and signed by the employer, Valid company ID
– Recent pay slip duly stamped and signed by the employer
– Labor Card
– New Emirates ID (pink) (only for those whose visa was issued prior to April 11, 2022)

Additional documents which may be required (bring 2 copies):

For workers with basic wage falling below the minimum standard set by the POEA, i.e., $400 or Dh1,500/month, a Salary Certificate, indicating the basic wage and total salaries and allowances being received per month by the worker, duly stamped and signed by the employer, will be required.

For workers whose position or designation are different on the contract, visa, and the additional proof of employment, an Explanation Letter from the employer clarifying the discrepancy/ies will be required.

For workers whose company name indicated in the contract is different from that on the visa or the additional proof of employment, any document showing the relationship between the company names will be required, such as: Trade Licenses, explanation letter from the employer, etc.

Note: For representatives submitting documents on behalf of the worker or sponsor, an appropriate authorization letter and copy of the Emirates ID of the representative will be required.

ICA/Expat Media | Source: https://www.polodubaiportal.org/contract-verification

Daily cap for appointments at POLO Dubai

Starting May 4, 2022, POLO Dubai will be entertaining 250 appointments per day for contract verification and OWWA membership application or renewal. Only those with online appointments will be entertained, POLO Dubai told Expatmedia.net.

Click here to book POLO Dubai appointment for contract verification or OWWA membership

In a previous interview with Expatmedia.net, POLO Dubai reiterated a POEA advisory for “all workers not to leave the Philippines with a tourist visa or visit visa but to undergo the legal channel and have their documents processed with POEA”.

For more information go to polodubaiportal.org