Latest news with #OECs
Filipino Times
29-03-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Supreme Court: No more SSS payment needed for OEC
The Supreme Court has ruled that land-based overseas Filipino workers no longer need to pay Social Security System (SSS) contributions before obtaining their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs). Without this certificate, Filipino workers who want to work abroad cannot leave the Philippines. In a decision released on Nov. 5, 2024, the court struck down Rule 14, Section 7(iii) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Social Security Act of 2018. This rule required workers in countries without labor agreements with the Philippines to pay both employer and employee shares, totaling P2,400 per month, before getting an OEC. Petitioners, including Migrante International, argued that the rule was unfair and violated workers' constitutional rights to travel and due process. They also pointed out that many foreign employers do not pay their share of SSS contributions, forcing workers to cover the full amount. The Supreme Court ruled that making SSS payments a condition for OEC issuance was 'unduly oppressive, unreasonable, and repugnant to the Constitution.' The court stated that the rule focused more on enforcing collections than protecting workers. With this ruling, the SSS, POEA, and DOLE are permanently barred from requiring advance SSS payments for OECs. However, other provisions of the Social Security Act challenged in the case were upheld. Migrante International called the decision a 'partial victory.' Deputy Secretary General Josie Pingkihan said, 'This successful decision from the Supreme Court is a result of the collective action of our fellow migrants against state extortion.'
Filipino Times
23-03-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
OFW Processing Center to open at Mactan-Cebu Airport
Cebu Pacific, in collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Aboitiz InfraCapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), is set to establish an overseas Filipino workers (OFW) Processing Center at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2. The new facility aims to simplify the processing of essential travel documents for migrant workers. Construction of the center will begin this March, with operations expected to start by the end of the second quarter of 2025. The center will assist in processing Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) and streamline the departure and return procedures for OFWs traveling through MCIA. Cebu Pacific's Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Candice Iyog, emphasized the airline's commitment to improving services for OFWs, saying, 'This partnership is part of our ongoing effort to make air travel more convenient and responsive to the needs of overseas Filipino workers.' DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac expressed full support for the initiative, noting that the center would serve as a one-stop service hub, providing essential services, comfort, and VIP treatment to OFWs and their families. This initiative underscores Cebu Pacific's role in supporting migrant workers, further enhancing its reputation as a trusted airline partner for the Filipino workforce abroad. The airline also plans to collaborate with other government and private sector partners to improve services for OFWs in the future.
