Filipinos who wish to work abroad are required to comply with local and international labor policies, including completion of necessary training and certification programs to ensure that they are holistically prepared in terms of their skills and knowledge. One of these required preparations is the Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar or more commonly called PEOS, which can now be accomplished online.
PEOS is the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) online seminar for Filipinos who plan to work overseas. The seminar covers a range of topics, including the requirements for overseas employment, the risks and challenges of working abroad, and the rights and responsibilities of Filipino workers.
Contents
Why PEOS Seminar is Important
The seminar is an important resource for Filipinos who are considering working overseas, as it provides them with critical information that can help them make informed decisions about their careers.
PEOS is also a valuable opportunity for Filipinos to learn more about their rights and responsibilities as workers, and to understand the challenges they may face while working abroad.
Through PEOS, Filipinos can gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the complexities of the overseas employment process, and to make informed decisions about their
PEOS Modules
The Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) is a comprehensive, client-specific, self-instructional and digital-based pre-qualification seminar by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), consisting of eight modules.
Each module has a slide presentation and a video recording on the topic, as well as a brief assessment test.
Accomplishing each module will take around seven minutes, making the whole seminar good for an hour, covering the following topics:
- Module 1: PRICEST – contains general concerns on overseas work: physical mobility, relationships, income and expenses, career movement and direction, environment, skill set, and time
- Module 2: Job Search – contains information on various job application platforms and channels, documents and other requirements, as well as the importance of having an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
- Module 3: Forewarned, Forearmed – contains information on precautionary measures for various forms of illegal employment and recruitment
- Module 4: The Price is Right – contains a list of required fees for pre-departure as well as government-mandated fees
- Module 5: Seal the Deal – contains a list of minimum provisions in the standard overseas employment contract
- Module 6: Country Information – contains general information on some countries offering employment.
- Module 7: Healthy and Safe – contains information on major health and safety risks that OFWs have or may encounter abroad
- Module 8: POEA Cares – a directory of POEA regional offices and extension units
In its early years, the PEOS was held in all POEA training centers, to be attended by OFW applicants in batches. Now, it is held online, and those who wish to attend need not to go far because they can apply for and complete the seminar anytime, anywhere.
Accomplishing the PEOS will earn you a certificate of completion, which is required for you to get an Overseas Employment Certificate – a crucial document for employers abroad.
Should you wish to fulfill your dream of working abroad, or if you know someone who does, let this article walk you through the application process and bring you one step closer to your greener pasture.
Qualifications
Any Filipino can apply for the PEOS, but it is mandatory for the following:
- Filipinos seeking land-based overseas work for the first time, and;
- Newly-hired Filipinos with no prior record of deployment from POEA
Requirements
As any Filipino can apply for PEOS, they can conveniently apply online, and it won’t take more than an hour to complete, given the following tools:
- A laptop, desktop, or smartphone with Internet access, and;
- A strong Internet connection (WiFi, Broadband or Mobile Data)
How to Apply for Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) and Get a PEOS Certificate
To formally apply for PEOS, applicants must follow and accomplish the following:
- Go to www.onlineservices.poea.gov.ph//OnlineServices/POEAOnline.aspx to register for a POEA E-services account. Fill in all necessary information and make sure to use an active email address in creating an account for confirmation.
- Sign in and gain access to all POEA online services with this account. You will also be given an e-registration number in your confirmation email, which you will use to register for PEOS.
- You will receive your e-registration number. Afterwards, go to https://peos.poea.gov.ph/ to register online to PEOS. FIll in the form in the webpage with your e-registration number and name.
- In the same webpage, there are two options for the learning module: Professional/skilled for skilled workers, and Household worker for domestic work, such as caregiving and housekeeping, among others. Depending on the job you will be applying or have applied for abroad, select the appropriate course.
- Once you have entered and verified all details, click “Proceed”. This will then lead you to the account dashboard containing the 8 modules you have to study and pass.
- In the dashboard, select the first module. Study the content, either by watching the video or reading through the slide presentation. You may opt to take notes as needed.
- At the end of the module, select “Let’s Review”. You will be brought to page for the the Modular Assessment Test. To pass the module, you must get at least three (3) out of five (5) correct answers.
- Repeat the Steps 6 to 7 until all 8 modules have been covered. Upon completion of 8 modules, you will receive a copy page of the results of your tests and a certificate of completion, which you may opt to print for documentation.
Benefits
Prior to getting a job abroad, you will need to have an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to be presented to your employer and recruitment agency. This Overseas Employment Certificate can only be granted if you have your PEOS Certificate.
The PEOS Certificate can also be used as a complementary certificate if you plan to apply for work abroad, since it certifies that you are well-equipped by national standards to be deployed for overseas employment.
General Guidelines
Here are some general guidelines about what to expect from the PEOS seminar:
- The PEOS is a free seminar managed by POEA and partner government and private agencies. Any fee requested, therefore, is not a legitimate part of PEOS nor its managing agencies.
- As the PEOS caters to aspiring OFWs, former or returning OFWs need not take the PEOS again before returning overseas. Instead, they only need to submit the following documents to certify that they had previously worked abroad and had been processed by POEA.
- OFW Information Sheet
- Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)
- Passport with arrival and departure records, and appropriately stamped visa/s.
- Once you have been given the PEOS certificate, you may opt to have it printed by clicking “Print your Certificate of Completion” in the PEOS webpage. This will direct you to another browser tab containing your document. You may then either click the Printer icon to print, or the Download icon to save a soft copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions and answers about PEOS Seminar:
1. What is PEOS? How is it different from PDOS?
The Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS) is a 1-hour mandatory seminar by POEA for Filipinos who dream of finding work abroad, covering topics on overseas employment such as the rights and responsibilities of an OFW, required fees and documents for employment, and other considerations.
On the other hand, the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) is a 6-hour mandatory seminar by OWWA for Filipinos who are about to set foot abroad. It covers topics such as travel tips, employment considerations, financial literacy, health and safety, and other realities of migration.
Both are equally essential workshops, but in different ways. While PEOS is the first step, the PDOS is the final step to building a career overseas.
2. Is the seminar for free?
Yes, the PEOS seminar is offered for free, and there are no charges to be incurred from registering for the program and claiming your certificate upon completion.
3. Who are qualified to take the PEOS?
The PEOS is open for all Filipinos who aspire to work abroad, but it is most encouraged for those who seek land-based overseas employment for the first time, as well as newly-hired Filipinos who have no record of registration to POEA.
4. Can we only take the PEOS online? What if I do not have a computer?
In its early years, the PEOS was attended by Filipinos through the POEA regional offices and POEA-accredited training centers. However, with the rise of the digital age, POEA adapted an online version of the program for an easier, more accessible means. Therefore, you only need a smartphone with Internet access to register and complete the PEOS.
5. What happens if I fail an assessment test?
Should you fail the assessment test at the end of a module, you will have to go back to the module materials, either the video recording or the slide presentation to study the lesson. There are no limits as to how much you are allowed to take the test, but you must be able to pass all tests to finish the program. Your test results will be given upon completion of the program.
6. Once I get my PEOS certificate, can I immediately apply for a job overseas?
Upon completion of the PEOS, you will receive a soft copy of your certificate of completion, which you can either download or print for documentation. However, to be able to proceed to your overseas application, you will have to submit your PEOS certificate, among others, to get your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). This shall then serve as your official certification that you are qualified for overseas employment. Otherwise, your PEOS can also serve as your complementary document, meaning you have been certified to have the necessary qualifications to work abroad.
7. Is the PEOS a one-time seminar?
Yes, the PEOS is to be attended for only one time, as it is only required for first-time and aspiring OFWs. Returning OFWs need not to attend the PEOS. Rather, they only need to submit a copy of their OFW information sheet, a copy of their OEC, and a copy of their passport containing the pages of their previous arrival and departure stamps and corresponding visas.
Summary
In conclusion, the PEOS promises Filipinos of a comprehensive, easy-to-follow approach to preparing them for overseas work, and with its online version, accomplishing the program is made even more accessible and hassle-free.
Moreover, because it is self-paced, you can work on finishing it on your own time. And because it’s free, you need not worry about wasting a peso on unfinished work.
It has even been tried and recommended by thousands of now thriving OFWs. So there is no reason to miss out on such a wonderful opportunity to be job-ready abroad with PEOS.