A verified Employment Contract is one of the essential documents for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), ensuring their employment rights, benefits, and welfare. In addition, it’s a primary requirement for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), serving as an exit clearance for Filipinos leaving the Philippines to work overseas. With that said, read our in-depth guide for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Los Angeles, USA.
But why do OFWs have to verify their contracts? The verification of OFW’s Employment Contracts helps the Labor Attaché to confirm if they comply with the prevailing employment laws, practices, and standards of the Philippines and the host country. In short, this process helps verify the legality and safety of OFWs contracts. That’s why OFWs should accomplish the Individual Contract Verification in Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Los Angeles, USA.
Contents
Qualifications
If you’re applying for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Los Angeles, you should meet any of the qualifications below:
- Filipino nationals without POEA records but working abroad
- Filipino workers registered with POEA but have changed their employers on-site
- Filipino workers with potential employers and an employment visa approved by the Immigration Department
- Filipino workers rehired by the same employer
Requirements
Here are the following documentary requirements OFWs should complete for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Los Angeles, USA:
Direct Hired
For Land-Based Professional/Skilled Workers
- DMW Individual Employment Contract for Various Skills – notarized and signed on all pages by the principal or the authorized representative (click here to download)
- For employers with their own Employment Contract or Offer Letter (US), refer to the IEC for Various Skills Sections 8, 12, 14, and 15. Also, submit a notarized ADDENDUM verbatim.
- For the US: Work Visa
- For Islands: temporary work permit or work permit
- Copy of worker’s valid passport (showing data page)
- Copy of valid Commercial Registration and Business License of the principal (issued and authenticated by the Chamber of Commer or other relevant government offices)
- Secretary’s Certificate OR Authorization of the person signing for and on behalf of the company/employer (notarized) (click here to download)
- Copy of any valid ID or other acceptable forms of identification of the signatory in the Secretary’s Certificate
- Business/Employers Information Card (click here to download)
- Employee Information Card (click here to download)
For Land-Based Domestic Workers
- For the US:
- US Domestic Contract required by the US Department of State (click here to download)
- A3 or G5 visa
- For Islands:
- Individual Employment Contract for Domestic Workers – notarized and signed on all pages by the principal or the authorized representative (click here to download)
- Working visa or work permit
- Copy of worker’s valid passport (showing data page)
- Copy of official/valid ID of employer
- Employers Information Card (click here to download)
- Employee Information Card (click here to download)
Agency Hired
For Land-Based Professional/Skilled Workers
- POEA Individual Employment Contract for Various Skills – notarized and signed on all pages by the principal or the authorized representative (click here to download)
- For the US: Work Visa
- For Islands: temporary work permit or work permit
- Copy of worker’s valid passport (showing data page)
- Secretary’s Certificate OR Authorization of the person signing for and on behalf of the company/employer (notarized) (click here to download)
- Copy of official/valid ID of Signatory
- Business/Employers Information Card (click here to download)
- Employee Information Card (click here to download)
Note: Attach a copy of the MWO-verified Job Order if verifying the Individual Employment Contract is done after accreditation with DMW.
For Land-Based Domestic Workers
- Individual Employment Contract for Domestic Workers (template from PRA) – notarized and signed on all pages by the principal or the authorized representative
- For Islands: temporary work permit or work permit
- Copy of worker’s valid passport (showing data page)
- Copy of official/valid ID of Signatory
- Employers Information Card (click here to download)
- Employee Information Card (click here to download)
Note: Attach a copy of the MWO-verified Job Order if verifying the Individual Employment Contract is done after accreditation with DMW.
Additional Documents for Balik Manggagawa/Returning Workers
- Notarized Individual Employment Contract – signed on all pages by the employer and worker
- For employers with their own Employment Contract or Offer Letter (US), submit a notarized ADDENDUM to the Master Employment Contract signed on all pages by the principal or the authorized representative (click here to download)
- Employer’s colored copy of the passport biometric page with at least six (6) months validity before the intended date of departure
- Proof of establishing employment with the current employer, such as:
- Latest Certificate of Employment
- Company ID
- Latest payslip
- Copy of current visa stamp on the passport
- Letter from the employer confirming the transfer of the worker’s job site (for OFWs with existing DMW records and returning to the same employer but a different job site)
- Sworn statement of the worker explaining the employment process with the current employer (for unregistered workers or those who changed employers on-site)
Also, you may download the sample forms for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Los Angeles thru this link.
Fees
After completing the said requirements above, here are the applicable fees OFWs should pay to get their verified Employment Contract from MWO Los Angeles:
- Verification fee- $10 per Individual Employment Contract
- OWWA Membership fee- US$25 (if OWWA membership is expired or about to expire)
How to Verify Employment Contract in MWO Los Angeles, USA
To verify an Employment Contract in MWO Los Angeles, follow the steps below:
Via Mail
- Submit the complete, original, and typewritten requirements to MWO Los Angeles by sending the original documents to the UPS or FedEx Airway bill at:
- MWO Los Angeles Mailing Address:
- Recipient: Migrant Workers Office-Los Angeles / Labor Attaché Macy Maglanque
- Address: 3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2285, Los Angeles, California, 90010, USA
- Also, it’s a must to provide your FedEx account number or create one if you don’t have one yet. Next, fill out two (2) Airway Bills, one for the package and the other for Return Label. Then, put the filled-out Airway Bill 2 and an empty FedEx envelope inside the package.
- Once MWO Los Angeles receives the requirements, they will review the documents on a “first come, first serve” basis.
- MWO Los Angeles will evaluate the documents within 3-10 days based on the worker’s status.
- Next, MWO Los Angeles will email the worker or representative if the verification is approved. If requirements are incomplete or incorrect, submit the missing documents to proceed.
- Also, MWO Los Angeles will send an assessment of fees and payment instructions for clients with verified documents.
- Pay the applicable fees via ACH, wire transfer, or postal money order. If postal money order, address the check to Macy Monique A. Maglangue.
- Then, MWO Los Angeles will drop the documents in a UPS or FedEx box based on the recipient’s details indicated on the Return Label.
Via Consular Outreach Mission
Another way to verify an Employment Contract in the US is via Consular Outreach Mission. MWO Los Angeles conducts Consular Outreach Mission with different Philippine Consulate General (PCG) offices in the US. Thus, we advise OFWs to contact MWO Los Angeles thru their Facebook page for their upcoming schedule and venue of the Consular Outreach Mission.
Summary
A verified Employment Contract is necessary for all OFWs, be it first-time workers, those who renewed their contracts with the same employer, and transferred their employer or job site. Most of all, this document is essential for OFWs vacationing in the Philippines since it’s a requirement for OEC.
So if you’re not qualified for OEC exemption, you should process an Individual Contract Verification in MWO Los Angeles, USA, before going home to the Philippines for a short vacation.