For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Turkey who need to verify their Employment Contract, contact the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Lebanon, which have oversight jurisdiction over the country. It’s an essential document since the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), formerly POEA, requires this it for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) application. So keep reading as we share our in-depth guide on Individual Contract Verification in Turkey.
Considering there’s no designated MWO in Turkey, OFWs should verify their Employment Contract with MWO Lebanon, so the Labor Attaché can check if their contracts comply with the latest laws, standards, and practices of the Philippines and the host country. Without a verified Employment Contract, OFWs can’t secure their OEC, an exit clearance required for Filipinos leaving the country to work abroad. Thus, we advise OFWs in Turkey to process Individual Contract Verification with MWO Lebanon.
Contents
Qualifications
Before we dive into the process for Individual Contract Verification in Turkey, check first if you meet any of the qualifications below:
- Filipino nationals without POEA records but working abroad or those who transferred job sites with a new employer
- 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 nationals who legally migrated to a foreign country and converted from migrant status to a worker status (such as dependents, permanent residents, petitioned family members, spouse, or fiance visas)
- Filipino workers on a fixed-term contract (verify every renewal)
Requirements
As stated on the website of MWO Lebanon, their office has oversight jurisdiction over Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and North Cyprus. So OFWs in these countries should prepare the following documents in two (2) sets for Individual Contract Verification:
Balik-Manggagawa
For Professional/Skilled Workers
- Duly-accomplished Balik Manggagawa Information Sheet
- Employment Contract (original and notarized) – with the stamp of company logo/seal and Apostille stamped from the Governor’s Office
- Copy of worker’s Philippine passport (data page only with signature) – valid for at least six (6) months before the intended date of departure
- Copy of valid visa/existing work permits
- Certificate of Employment with salary
- Contingency Plan
- Copy of employer’s valid ID or passport with signature
- Copy of employer’s airway bill shipment receipt (for returning the documents to Turkey)
For Household Workers
- Duly-accomplished Balik Manggagawa Information Sheet
- Employment Contract (original and notarized) with Apostille stamped from the Governor’s Office – signed on all pages by the worker and employer
- Certificate of Employment with salary
- Undertaking of the employer
- Contingency Plan
- Copy of worker’s Philippine passport (data page only with signature) – valid for at least six (6) months before the intended date of departure
- Copy of valid visa/existing work permits
- Copy of employer’s valid ID or passport with signature
- Copy of employer’s airway bill shipment receipt (for returning the documents to Turkey)
Direct Hire
For Professional/Skilled Workers
- Employment Contract (original and notarized) with Apostille stamped from the Governor’s Office – signed on all pages by the worker and employer
- Copy of worker’s Philippine passport (data page only with signature) – valid for at least six (6) months before the intended date of departure
- Copy of valid visa/existing work permits
- Contingency Plan
- Proof of worker’s mandatory insurance from POEA accredited insurance company
- Company Profile, Business License/Commercial Registration of the employer
- Notarized statement stating how the worker obtained the employment with a photocopy of the employer’s valid ID/passport and contact information
- Endorsement Letter from MWO addressed to the Administrator requesting exemption from the direct hiring ban
- Additional documents supporting the job application, such as:
- Certificate of Employment or Business Permit (if self-employed)
- Diploma and Transcript of Record (TOR)
- TESDA NC II/PRC License
- Curriculum vitae/resume
For Domestic Workers
- Employment Contract (original and notarized) with Apostille stamped from the Governor’s Office – signed on all pages by the worker and employer
- Copy of worker’s Philippine passport (data page only with signature) – valid for at least six (6) months before the intended date of departure
- Copy of valid visa/existing work permits
- Contingency Plan
- Undertaking of the employer
- Proof of worker’s mandatory insurance from POEA accredited insurance company
- TESDA National Certificate (NC II) for Domestic Workers
- Notarized statement stating how the worker obtained the employment with a photocopy of the employer’s valid ID/passport and contact information
- Endorsement Letter from MWO addressed to the Administrator requesting exemption from the direct hiring ban
For Direct Individual Employers for Household Workers
- Employment Contract (original and notarized) with Apostille stamped from the Governor’s Office – signed on all pages by the worker and employer
- Copy of worker’s Philippine passport (data page only with signature) – valid for at least six (6) months before the intended date of departure
- Copy of valid visa/existing work permits
- Contingency Plan
- Undertaking of the employer
- Original copy of the formal arrangement between the Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA) and Individual direct employer to deploy/hire a household worker – signed by the PRA and employer
- Copy of employer’s valid ID or passport with signature
- Employer’s Profile – with contact details, complete address, and proof of capacity to employ household workers
- Certificate from the police that the employer or their immediate family members have no criminal record and are not involved in any case of abuse
- Copy of PRA’s valid license
- Copy of employer’s airway bill shipment receipt (for returning the documents to Turkey)
Verification Fees
- For First-time deployment – $40.00
- For Returning Workers/Balik Manggagawa – $10.00
How to Verify Employment Contract in Turkey
To verify Employment Contract in Turkey, follow the steps below:
Via Email/Mail (MWO Lebanon)
- Gather the complete documentary requirements.
- Combine the documents into one PDF file.
- Send the PDF file to MWO Lebanon thru email at mwo_lebanon@dmw.gov.ph for pre-evaluation.
- After evaluating the requirements, MWO Lebanon will notify you to send the original and one (1) photocopy of each document to:
- Migrant Workers Office (MWO) – Lebanon
- 2nd Floor W. Building,
- Mar Geries St., Hadath,
- Baabda, Lebanon
- Also, the MWO evaluator will instruct the worker/employer to include the cargo and verification fees and the recipient’s complete name and address.
- Next, MWO Lebanon will verify the documents if complete.
- Then, the evaluator will prepare an airway bill to send the verified Employment Contract to the recipients thru courier.
Via Consular Outreach Mission (MWO Lebanon)
- Visit the Facebook page of MWO Lebanon.
- Ask about the upcoming venue and schedule of the Consular Outreach Mission.
- Set an appointment for Contract Verification if necessary.
- Go to the designated venue of the Consular Outreach Mission.
- Submit your complete requirements for verification.
- Pay the applicable fees.
- Then, collect your official receipt and wait for the issuance of your verified Employment Contract.
Summary
Whether vacationing or not, OFWs should verify their Employment Contracts to ensure their benefits and protect their welfare and rights while working overseas. By securing this document, OFWs can enjoy the benefits MWOs, and their partners offer. Most importantly, a verified Employment Contract proves the OFW is legally employed and staying in the host country. Therefore, OFWs in Turkey should connect with MWO Lebanon for Individual Contract Verification.