A verified Employment Contract is essential for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have changed their employers and job sites. Formerly known as POEA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) also requires a verified Employment Contract for Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) application, serving as exit clearance for Filipino workers leaving the country to work abroad. That’s why we’ve created a guide for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Vancouver, Canada, so read on.
The Labor Attaché verifies OFW’s contract to check if it’s following the current laws, standards, and practices of the Philippines and the host country. It protects OFWs’ rights, welfare, and benefits, ensuring they’re legally working and staying abroad. Moreover, vacationing OFWs should secure this document to obtain their OEC. Thus, OFWs should process Individual Contract Verification in Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Vancouver, Canada, for their own good.
Contents
Qualifications
Before reading further, check if you meet any of the qualifications below for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Vancouver, Canada:
- 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)
Note that workers who have previously secured a verified Employment Contract with their current employer no longer need to authenticate their renewed contracts. But they should present their old and renewed contract during the BM employment certificate application. Also, they should be working for the same employer for this condition to be applicable.
Requirements
For qualified OFWs, here are the following documentary requirements for Individual Contract Verification in MWO Vancouver, Canada:
For Agency Hiring
- Letter Request to MWO/Labor Attaché – verification request for the submitted documentary requirements
- Manpower Request/Job Order – form from the Philippine Recruitment Agency (PRA) stating the position, salary, and number of employed Filipino workers
- Individual Employment Contract or Employment Offer/Nomination Confirmation (if hiring less than five (5) workers per Job Order)
- Master Employment Contract (if hiring more than five (5) workers per Job Order) – all pages dated and with the worker and employer’s original signature (Note: A scanned copy of the worker’s signature may only be accepted once verified by the POEA/DMW office in Manila)
- Individual Employment Contract Addendum – with worker and employer/authorized representative original signature
- 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/work permit
- Employer/authorized representative valid government-issued ID – with photo and signature
- Copy of Certificate of Incorporation and Company/Board Resolution, giving authority to a company representative to sign on behalf of the company/employer
- Letter of Affidavit/Undertaking
- Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Approval of LMIA-Free Work Permit International Mobility Program (IMP) – if hired thru ESDC/Service Canada-approved Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP)
- Confirmation of Nomination/Acceptance- if hired thru the Provincial/Territorial Nominee Program
- Agreement between PRA and Canadian employer – dated and signed by PRA, Canadian employer, or Third Party Representative Foreign Recruitment Agency (FRA)
- Hiring/Service Agreement between the Third Party Representative and Canadian employer (if applicable)
- Copy of employer’s Business Registration/License
- Company/employer Profile and list of workers
- Employer License/Registration to hire Foreign workers by MOL – for British Columbia employers only
- Employer Registration with the Ministry of the Economy (FWRISA) – for Saskatchewan employers only
- License of Third Party Representative/FRA
- POEA License of PRA and owner’s passport copy
Fees
- Letter/Affidavit of Undertaking – CAD 11.50
- Business License/Company Registration – CAD 11.50
- Individual Employment Contract – CAD 11.50
- Manpower Request/Job Order – CAD 11.50
- Recruitment Agreement – CAD 11.50
- Service Agreement (between Third Party/FRA and employer) – CAD 11.50
- Master Employment Contract – CAD 34.50
For Direct Hiring
- Copy of valid Business License/Commercial Registration of the principal/employer
- Copy of any valid government-issued ID of the principal/employer – with signature and photo (such as a passport or driver’s license)
- Copy of Board/Company Resolution (for enterprise with multiple owners)
- Copy of Certificate of Incorporation and Notice of Articles (for sole proprietors)
- Individual Employment Contract (if hiring one (1) worker only) – all pages dated and signed by the principal/employer
- Master Employment Contract (if two (2) or more worker is required per LMIA) – all pages dated and signed by the principal/employer
- Addendum to the Employment Contract – dated and signed by the employer/authorized representative
- Affidavit of Undertaking by the principal/employer
- Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Approval of LMIA-Free Work Permit International Mobility Program (IMP) – if hired thru ESDC/Service Canada-approved Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP)
- Confirmation of Nomination/Acceptance- if hiring thru the Provincial/Territorial Nominee Program
- Registration with the Ministry of the Economy (FWRISA) – if hiring thru the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program
- 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/work permit
- Confirmation that the employer directly hired not more than five (5) workers since its business opened
Fees
- Business License/Commercial Registration – CAD 11.50
- Individual Employment Contract – CAD 11.50
- Master Employment Contract – CAD 34.50
How to Verify Employment Contract in MWO Vancouver, Canada
To verify Employment Contract in MWO Vancouver, Canada, follow the steps below:
- Complete the requirements and provide two (2) copies of each document.
- Send the requirements and a pre-paid self-addressed return envelope to:
- The Labor Attaché
- Migrant Workers Office (MWO)
- Labor Section
- Philippine Consulate General
- Suite 601, 999 Canada Place
- Vancouver, BV V6C 3E1
- Pay the applicable fees thru a postal money order or bank drafts.
- If incomplete requirements, MWO Vancouver will return them with the fees using the provided return envelope. For more details, an MWO representative will email or call the applicant.
- If the requirements are complete, wait within seven (7) working days for the verified Employment Contract process and issuance.
Summary
To sum up, a verified contract protects OFWs, ensuring their employer is legal and complies with the employment standards, laws, and practices. Without this document, vacationing OFWs cannot also obtain their OEC, causing a delay in their flight and return to work abroad. Therefore, OFWs who have changed employer/job site or don’t have POEA records, whether vacationing or not, should complete Individual Contract Verification in MWO Vancouver, Canada.