Universal ID for OFWs Proposed
A proposal to establish a universal identification card for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) has been submitted to the House of Representatives to facilitate easier access to government services and to protect them from abuse.
A party-list lawmaker advocating for OFW rights said the proposed Global Identification System would serve as the primary ID card for all documented Filipino workers abroad to protect them from exploitation in the workplace.
In an explanatory note, OFW Family Rep. Juan Johnny R. Revilla said his proposal in House Bill 5539 would help facilitate linkage of OFWs to government agencies offering various services.
Under his proposal, the Philippine government, the system shall produce an OFW Card that will serve as the primary and only identification card for all OFWs, containing information such as the worker’s name, date of birth, latest photo, card number, validity dates, passport number and expiration date, type of work visa, country of employment and employer’s name.
It will also bear their Social Security Number, Pag-Ibig member number and PhilHealth membership number.
Machine readable
The machine-readable OFW Card shall be issued in the Philippines through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for all new OFWs prior to departure to country of employment.
On the other hand, cards shall be issued to currently employed OFWs by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in the country where they work.
The OFW Card shall be linked with SSS and will provide access to the member OFW’s contributions summary.
Similarly, the OFW Card will be linked with the Pag-Ibig Fund’s system so that members may be able to access their contribution summary through the agency’s website. It shall also be linked to the PhilHealth system to allow members to view their premium payments.
The bill mandates the POEA to work closely with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) through the Polo, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through its Migrant Affairs Office, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), SSS, Pag-Ibig Fund and PhilHealth.
Revilla said the measure would make life easier for an estimated 10 million OFWs worldwide, whom he recognized for their valuable contributions to the economy.
“These OFWs have contributed immensely to the economic and financial development of our country through their foreign remittances that saved the Philippines from financial crisis in previous years,” he said. RC