POEA Milestones (1982-2005)

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) was established in 1982 through the Executive Order 797 which aims to promote and monitor the overseas employment of Filipino workers. The founding of the POEA has marked a significant event for the year 1982, and it has achieved the following milestone.

1982

• Integration of government agencies engaged in the OE program into the POEA, through Executive Order No.797
• Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas as first POEA Administrator
• Establishment of the POEA Regional Center for the Middle East in Jeddah, KSA

1983

• 1983 launching year of the Bagong Bayni Awards for Filipino workers overseas
• Inauguration of the One-Stop Processing Center of Filipino Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs)

1984

• POEA transfered to Delta building at the corner of Ortigas Avenue along EDSA
• Deployment of Labor Attaches and Welfare Officers
• Accession of Filipino seafarers to 1978 STCW Convention
• Establishment of the Labor Assistance Center at the MIA

1985

• Promulgation of POEA rules and regulations on overseas employment
• Agency performance appraisal and monitoring institutionalized
• Computerization of POEA operations
• Certification of skills qualification or competence of Filipino workers

1986

• POEA at the center of the 1986 People Power Revolution
• Guidelines on the Processing and Release of Artists Accreditation Certificates (PECC Cards) issued.

1987

• POEA Reorganization by virtue of E.O.No. 247
• From an observer status RP became a full-pledge member of the International Office on Migration
• The ad-hoc Anti-Illegal Recruitment Team created under PD 1920 and EO 1022 re-organized and the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch was created as a permanent and regular unit under the Licensing and Regulation Office

1988

• Renovation of POEA building completed complementing functions and workforce of a reorganized POEA
• Decentralization of POEA basic services to REUs
• Ban on the deployment of Domestic Helpers worldwide implemented as a result of a comprehensive review of employment conditions at the jobsite

1989

• Congress approved the 10% retention of POEA income
• POEA Public Assistance Unit established at the POEA lobby
• Travel Exit Pass for workers simplified

1991

• Massive repatriation of OFWs in the Middle East due to the erupted Gulf War

1992

• Institutionalization of OEC processing and issuance by the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) at the jobsite
• Establishment of the Facilitation and Review Office (FARO) to handle the documentation of workers for deployment to Taiwan

1994

• Establishment of the Artist Record Book (ARB) system for entertainers
• Adoption of the revised prescribed standard contract for household helpers
• POEA sought a balance in the regulation, marketing and welfare aspects of the OE program;

• Re-definition of POEA involvement in the OE program from regulation to that of managing labor migration

1995

• Republic Act 8042, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, defined the specific policy thrust for POEA, which include the following:
• Guarantee of Migrant workers’ right
• Deregulation of POEA regulatory functions
• Stricter rules on illegal recruitment activities and the corresponding penalties
• Selective deployment
• Repatriation of workers
• Reintegration program
• Shared government information systems on migration and other basic assistance to OFWs and their families
• Use of information technology to facilitate dissemination of labor market information
• Expanded grassroots outreach education program to enable potential OFWs to arrive at informed decisions
• One-country team approach to synergize services to Filipino overseas
• Restructuring of systems for disposition of adjudication cases relating to overseas employment

1996

• Revision of the Standard Employment Contract for seafarers to meet the ILO and IMO standards
• The placement fee for landbased workers was pegged at one month salary
• Guidelines on the full disclosure policy were drawn up
• Policy on selective deployment were adopted thru Department Order No. 32 as set forth by RA8042 to countries where: there are existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of migrant workers; they are signatory to multilateral conventions relating to the protection of migrant workers; they have concluded bilateral agreement or arrangement with government protecting the rights of OFWs; and they are taking positive measures to protect the rights of migrant workers

1997

• RP won a permanent seat in the IMO Council based in London , a development highly considered by the international maritime community. It boosted the status and demand for seafarers worldwide
• Lemon Law

1998

• The POEA Governing Board was re-constituted for policy-making
• Conduct of the National Employment Summit
• One-Stop Processing Center for Balik-Manggagawa housingthe GSIS, SSS, Philhealth, OWWA and airlines

1999

• 1999 Computer program and systems upgraded
• Launching of POEA’s official website
• Introduction of the Voluntary Conciliation as a mode of dispute settlement of cases
• Strengthened international linkages through WTO, APEC, BIMP-IEAGA, goodwill promotions and marketing missions

2000

• Entry into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) White List; 2000, Year of OFWs
• POEA’s Seabased Center adjudged as Best Pilot Project in the DOLE-wide Continuous Process Improvement contest

2001

• The 24/7hotline services was institutionalized at the POEA Information and Assistance Center (PIAC)
• Unveiled the Bilis-Dokumento sa POEA for major frontline services
• Documentation of POEA Quality Management System conforming to ISO 9001:2000 standards
• E-Link Project for OFWs was launched

2002

• POEA Quality Management System was certified to ISO 9001:2000 by Certification International Philippines, Inc.
• Conducted the First International Employers Awards
• Operation of the Contract Processing Hub of the E-Link, where the E-Card and E-Receipt were issued
• Issued the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulation Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-Based Workers

2003

• Launched and operationalized the Philippine Seafarers’ One-Stop Center (PSOC), which housed fourteen (14) government agencies for faster documentation of
• Filipino Seafarers
• Launched the Text POEA project
• Led the convening of a National Tripartite Conference to ratify ILO Conventions 97, 143, and 181
• Operation of the E-Submission System at the Landbased Center
• Issued the 2003 POEA Rules and Regulation Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Seafarers

2004

• Renamed POEA building as Blas F. Ople Building , acknowledge as the Father of Overseas Employment
• Conducted Overseas Employment Summit to promote quality jobs for world-class Filipino workers
• MOU between the Philippine Government and the Republic of South Korea on the Korea-Employment Permit System was signed
• Institutionalized the conciliation of cases as an alternative to dispute settlement
• PSOC was converted to OFW One-Stop Center to include services for landbased workers
• POEA was conferred the DOLE Kapwa Award for its entries, “ The Silent Revolution: POEA’s March to Global Excellencein Governance” and the “E-Link Program for OFWs”
• Launched the POEA Intranet program for the POEA community
• Implemented the Courier System for Balik-Manggagawa documented at the POEA Central Office
• Operation of the E-Registration System which allowed applicants for overseas employment to register through the internet and be included in the POEA database
• Operation of E-Verification System which allowed the POEA regional offices to verify information by accessing the POEA database online
• Operation of the E-Submit for Seabased Center

2005

• POEA Quality Management System was re-certified to ISO 9001:2000 standards by Certification International Philippines, Inc. for another 3 years
• Documented OFWs reached the 1 million mark
• The Philippines reaffirmed its status in the IMO White
• List after 5 years
• Conducted the first in-bound marketing program to promote Filipino workers thru the DOLE Labor Opportunities Program
• Launched selected host country Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar modules in the POEA website
• Transferred PDOS and the remaining welfare functions of POEA to OWWA
• Suspended the issuance of Artist Accreditation Card to Overseas Performing Artists