Scrap OEC paper, Imee asks DMW
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) should either digitalize or scrap the requirement of Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) returning to the Philippines, Senator Imee Marcos said Thursday.
Marcos said this was the appeal made to her by Filipino migrant workers during her visit to the United Kingdom, Amsterdam, Paris, and other places in Europe with other senators in the last fortnight.
“They’re encountering several sufferings, especially in Paris wherein many Filipinos lost their jobs and yet, before entering the Philippines, they are still faced with difficulties over this OEC,” she related in a media briefing.
“Come to think of it, after losing their jobs, they opted to go back to the Philippines, but still, they are mandated to come up with this OEC,” noted the senator.
Marcos said she had already brought up this issue to DMW Secretary Susan Ople, requesting the possibility of digitalizing the form or signing it by the consulate.
The senator also said she will file a proposed measure to amend the dual citizenship law.
“In dual citizenship, a minor is only up to 18 years old. As I said, Filipino citizenship is not lost after reaching beyond 18 years old. So why deprive Filipinos abroad of a Philippine passport?” she asked.
“We are now drafting our proposals to amend the existing law to provide that regardless of the age of Filipinos abroad, they can apply for dual citizenship.”
Marcos emphasized that the application for dual citizenship should not be limited only to children of OFWs in other countries.