Changing jobs and POLO – Question for Filipinos in Japan

4 comments

1. The Filipino teachers we have employed (three so far) just ignored this.

   Apparently as an employer we are also supposed to register with the government of the Philippines in order to employ nationals of that country.

   https://polotokyo.dole.gov.ph/initial-renewal-of-accreditation/

   We also just ignored this.

2. Hi!

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   There’s an FB group (yes, I know), OFWs in Japan: OEC Support Group, where there are consistent updates regarding OEC issues and filipinos can ask help with regards to their situation. There are also a lot of useful guides that might already cover your specific situation. For example, with the PH government transitioning to its new president, international posts are also changing leaders. Hence, a possible change in guidelines and processes. So filipinos who are not planning to travel back home in the next few months or so are employing a wait and see approach on what the new Labor Attaché plans to change.

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   From what I understand, the “training” you’re referring to is the training that POEA requires for Filipinos who are departing for the first time for overseas work. (The Philippine government has been trying to weed out illegal recruiters and employers since filipino nationals have been one of the favorite targets of illegal recruiters and abuse by employers)

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   In the case of Filipinos already working in Japan and changed employers, they just need to have their employers and their contract validated by POLO/POEA. But there is a lot of confusion regarding requirements, etc. So the FB group is a good place to check the guides and ask questions.

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   I am also currently waiting for any changes with the requirements as it is a big hassle for my employer.

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   If you’re a fellow OFW, please join the group and check the guides. The admins have been hard at work negotiating with the POLO leadership to relax the requirements.

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   If you’re an employer, your filipino employee can check the process themselves and just ask you for the requirements that are needed from your side. As they can process it all by themselves.

3. >Apparently you have to go through some “training” in the Philippines prior to departure.

   True, and for an employer it’s a royal PITA if you’re looking to hire a Filipino *who is still in the Philippines*, because immigration won’t let them out on a work visa without the supporting documents (OEC, etc.)

   But once they get out, the government can’t really check on them, so they can switch jobs or move to a different country with no issues, as long as they don’t set foot in the Philippines.

   >what happens when you change jobs and how you update your OEC with POLO.

   Technically you’re supposed to apply for a new OEC, but my friend who has changed jobs twice never did anything 😂 There are no problems on the Japan side as long as you have a proper visa.

   Also, just a tiny distinction, which I touched upon in the first paragraph:

   >I recently learned that Filipino nationals need an overseas employer certificate (OEC) in order to leave the Philippines and move to another country.

   Filipino nationals **who are going out of the Philippines on a work visa** need the overseas employment certificate. If they’re going out on a spouse visa, they don’t need it. If they’re also a citizen of the destination country, they don’t need it.

4. My (PH) wife is here as a dependent on my visa, so she has the same working restrictions as a student.

   Her company wanted to bump her from part time to full time and was willing to sponsor the visa. Then their immigration lawyer said they needed to go through a ton of hoops with POLO. The employer also contacted immigration directly to ask about it, and their answer was “talk to POLO”

   In the end it was too complicated, and my wife just decided to stay part time.