Embassy of the Philippines

Philippine Overseas Labor Office

1 Moonah Place
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Landline +61262738882
Fax +61262733984
Mobile 0418356888
E-Mail polocanberra@y7mail.com
HIRING SKILLED FILIPINO WORKERS/PROFESSIONALS FOR AUSTRALIA
And REQUIREMENTS FOR POEA ACCREDITATION
Over the years, the Philippines has deployed more than 8 million overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs) in over 200 destinations in various fieldsmining operations, professional, medical, technical,
operations and maintenance, construction, hotel, ICT, seafaring and many other fields. Filipino workers
the world over are highly preferred because they are reputed to be creative, caring, efficient, dedicated,
productive, communicate well in English and go out of their way to finish a job once started.
The recruitment of Filipino workers is done through a systematic and transparent recruitment
system in place since the 1970s. Hiring rules heavily reflect the states policy of full protection for
overseas Filipino workers, and respond well to changing overseas labour market conditions. For example,
Republic Act No. 10022, which amended RA 8042, among others, restricts the number of country
destinations for OFWs to countries which (a) have existing labour and social laws protecting the rights of
workers, including migrant workers; or (b) are signatory to and/or have ratified multilateral conventions,
declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of workers, including migrant workers; or (c) have
concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government on the protection of the rights of
OFWs.
Standards for working terms and conditions for Filipino workers are set by the government, but
where the labour market destination offers better terms, the latter automatically become the standard. The
system also requires foreign principals (direct employers or placement agencies) to course their manpower
requirements through private employment and manning agencies licensed by the Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration (www.poea.gov.ph), the government agency which regulates overseas
employment in the Philippines. The present status of POEA-licensed agencies may be checked online at
www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/aglist.asp. If the foreign employer is a government entity or a governmentowned or controlled company, the latter may opt to do its hiring through the POEAs Government
Placement Branch (GBP). For the guidance of employers and foreign recruitment agencies, the POEA
also maintains a list of recruitment agency top performers and excellence awardees at
www.poea.gov.ph/agency/2009_agency_awardees.pdf .
Private employment agencies are either:
a.

Land-based agencies, which could be any person (natural or juridical) licensed by the POEA to
recruit workers for all land-based jobs for and on behalf of its foreign principal; or
b. Manning agencies, which could be any person (natural or juridical) licensed by the POEA to
recruit seafarers to man/board vessels plying international sea lanes and other related maritime
activities.
These licensed employment agencies ensure that only Filipino workers who are qualified and
medically-fit are deployed. Hence, Filipino workers are medically examined by government-accredited
medical clinics or hospitals and training centres authorized by the government.
VERIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION OF RECRUITMENT DOCUMENTS

To make it easier for overseas employers to hire OFWs and at the same time ensure the
protection of the latters rights and interests, there is a process of verification at the work site which is
done by the Labour Attach who is normally based at Philippine Embassies or Consulates. This process
ascertains the 1) existence of the company or project; 2) the need for Filipino manpower; 3) and the
employers capability to hire workers at the acceptable rates, and at desirable conditions, in conformity
with the minimum standards prescribed by the POEA and taking into account labour laws and
regulations of the host government. The verification and authentication of recruitment documents set out
below are the first step in the accreditation of Australian principals with the POEA.
A prospective Australian employer approved under Australian immigration rules as a standard
business sponsor or one covered by a Labour Agreement in specific industries to hire skilled and
professional Filipinos under the 457 or other visa sub-categories for jobs allowed to be filled up under
Australian laws (see new Skilled Occupations List which took effect on July 2010 at
www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2010L01318 for applicants under the General Skilled Migration scheme
and www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2010L03158 for the Employer Nominated Scheme visas 121 and
856), and interested to hire Filipino workers may choose from the official list of licensed private
employment agencies available at the POEA website, www.poea.gov.ph/cgi-bin/aglist.asp. For more
information
about
the
457
visa
sub-category,
please
see
www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/books9.pdf.
Assuming the prospective Australian employer or agency is already done with his preparations on
the Australia side, he should identify a Philippine agent which will source his/her manpower recruitment
and must submit recruitment documents to the nearest Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) at the
Philippine Embassy or Consulate for verification, in this case the POLO in Canberra. For employers
intending to hire Filipino workers without the assistance of a Philippine recruitment agency, the current
policy of the POEA is that each company is limited to only ten (10) workers to be hired under the namehiring scheme.
DOCUMENTS FOR SUBMISSION
For accreditation of employers hiring Filipino workers for the first time
For employers intending to hire Filipino workers for the first time, they must first undergo a
process of accreditation with the POEA. The accreditation process begins by the employer or principal
submitting the following documents to the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Canberra for
verification. After verification the following documents will be forwarded by POLO to the Consular
Section of the Philippine Embassy for authentication:
a.

Special Power of Attorney (SPA) from the Australian employer/foreign recruitment agency to
the Philippine recruitment agency, sample of which is downloadable from
http://www.poea.gov.ph/agency/spa2.pdf . The Recruitment Agreement between the Australian
principal and the Philippine recruitment agency may also contain the principals obligations under
the Special Power of Attorney, in which case it is the Recruitment Agreement which should be
submitted to the POLO in Canberra for verification and authentication, instead of the SPA. Of
all the documents required for accreditation, the SPA is the only one which needs to be notarized
by an Australian notary public, and not just by a Justice of the Peace, but needs NO attestation
by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). If it is the Recruitment Agreement
containing the principals obligations under the SPA which is being submitted, this may be
notarized in the Philippines.

b. Master Employment Contract, which should be signed by the employer on ALL PAGES and
which should contain the two mandatory provisions on 1) the repatriation of remains of the
employee in case of death, and 2) grounds for termination of employment (such as serious
misconduct, gross negligence, disobedience, etc.), as well as the applicable national employment
standards of Australia, or references the applicable modern award or enterprise bargaining
agreement. If the master employment contract or letter of offer does not contain the above two

mandatory provisions, and instead references to a modern award or enterprise bargaining

agreement, please send a copy of award or the agreement, highlighting the particular clause or
provision providing for the grounds for termination and repatriation of remains. The repatriation
of remains standard may also be satisfied by proof of purchase of health insurance coverage, with
a repatriation of remains clause. For convenience of the Australian employer and recruitment
agency, they may use the POEA standard employment contract for skilled workers and
professionals,
which
may
be
downloaded
from
http://www.poea.gov.ph/ofw/sec_various_new.pdf . This does not need to be notarized or
certified by a Justice of the Peace.
c. Job Order or Manpower request (please download prescribed format at
http://www.philembassy.org.au/images/POLO/forms/JOB_ORDER_FORMAT.pdf ). In case
the principal is an Australian recruitment agency, the job order (JO) from the direct
employer/client indicating the details of manpower demand addressed to the Australian
recruitment agency shall be submitted, as per prescribed format downloadable at
http://www.philembassy.org.au/images/POLO/forms/MANPOWER_REQUEST_FORMAT.
pdf . This does not need to be notarized or certified by a Justice of the Peace.
To enable POLO Canberra to better assess the conformity of the proposed working terms and
conditions in the manpower request or job order and in the master employment contract with
Australian laws, the applicant must show proof that he will provide no less favourable terms and
conditions of employment to the nominee than he would to an equivalent Australian in the
sponsors workplace at the same location. This is known as the market salary rate rule. This is
the same documentation which the standard business sponsor or an employer covered by a
Labour Agreement submits to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) during
the nomination process. However, this latter proof is not necessary where the proposed annual
salary rate for the OFW is not less than A$180,000.
d. Copy of valid business license or company registration. Although not mandatory, a company
profile (with nature of business, contact details indicated, including e-mail address) will also be
helpful in case POLO Canberra has questions to ask of the employer in relation to the
application. No notarization or certification by a Justice of the Peace needed.
e. Standard business sponsorship approval from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC) of Australia, indicating the approval or reference number from the DIAC; or in the
alternative, an approved Labour Agreement with the Federal Government, if applicable; or
nomination approval; or visa approval. No notarization or certification by a Justice of the Peace
needed.
f.

Photocopy of valid photo ID of official signatory of the company or agency, and a short
company profile, or a link to the companys website. These are not verifiable documents and
need no notarization or certification by a Justice of the Peace needed.

g. Prepaid, self-addressed envelope, preferably Express Post, of a size suitable to contain all the
verifiable documents.
To request additional manpower request/job orders
To request for additional manpower request/job orders, the following must be submitted to the
Philippine Overseas Labour Office in Canberra for verification and authentication:
For Australian Placement Agencies

1. Manpower
request
(prescribed
format
downloadable
at
http://www.philembassy.org.au/images/POLO/forms/MANPOWER_REQUEST_FORM
AT.pdf )
2. Copy of POEA Registration/Accreditation per principal
For Australian Employers
1. Job
Order
(prescribed
format
downloadable
http://www.philembassy.org.au/images/POLO/forms/JOB_ORDER_FORMAT.pdf )
2. Copy of POEA Registration/Accreditation

at

Recruitment documents or requests for additional job orders are to be personally submitted or
mailed to:
ATTY. JALILO O. DELA TORRE
Labour Attach II
Philippine Embassy
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla
ACT, 2600
FEES FOR VERIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION
A verification fee of A$18 will be collected by POLO-Canberra for each document enumerated
above for the verification procedure.
Further, an authentication fee of A$45 ($63 for expedited one-day processing) is charged by the
Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy for the whole set of documents and may be paid thru a
SEPARATE postal money order in the name of Embassy of the Philippines.
Official receipts from the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labour Office
(Department of Labour and Employment) evidencing receipt of above payments shall be included in the
envelope containing the verified and authenticated documents that will be sent back to the party
requesting verification.
SCHEDULE OF FEES
Process
Verification of
Recruitment
Documents

Office Responsible
Office of the Labour
Attach

Fee
A$18 per document

Mode of Payment
Australian
money
order

Authentication of
Recruitment
Documents

Consular Section

Australian
order

money

Verification of
Additional Job Order

Office of the Labour

Attach

A$45 for the whole set,

regardless of number of
documents.
One-day
processing is available
for authentication at
$63 for the whole set.
A$18 per document

Australian
order

money

Authentication of
Additional Job Order

Consular Section

A$45 for the whole set,

regardless of number of
documents.
One-day
processing is available
for authentication at
$63 for the whole set.

Australian
order

money

Payment Details
In the name of
Embassy of the
Philippines POLO
VF
In the name of
Embassy of the
Philippines.

In the name of
Embassy of the
Philippines POLO
VF
In the name of
Embassy of the
Philippines.

The verification and authentication procedures shall take no more than three (3) days from the
day the documents are received at the Embassy. But one-day processing is available at an extra charge for
authentication, as indicated above.
For inquiries, please address all communications to:
Atty. Jalilo O. Dela Torre
Labour Attach II
Philippine Embassy
Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO)
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla
ACT 2600, Australia
Telephone: 02-62738882
Mobile: 0418356888
Fax: 02-62733984
Email: polocanberra@y7mail.com