Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

Transcription

1 Overseas Workers Welfare Administration OWWA Center, F.B. Harrison St., Cor. 7 th St., Pasay City P.O. Box 1617 Manila, Philippines Zip Code 1300 Tels: to 24 Fax: Telefax: OWWA PH MEMORANDUM OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 013 Series of 2003 POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING THE PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINAR (PDOS) Pursuant to the provisions of POEA-OWWA Joint Circular No.04, Series of 2002, which facilitated the hand-over of PDOS to OWWA, and consistent with ;the objective of implementing a standardized PDOS, as well as ensuring its orderly implementation and responsiveness to the needs of departing Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the following policy directions and operational guidelines are hereby promulgated: A. DEFINITION OF TERMS For purposes of this Memorandum of Instructions (MOl): 1. Registration shall refer to the act of recognizing and entering in the official records of OWWA the existence of a PDOS Trainer or Provider, upon compliance with the requirements provided in this MOl. 2. PDOS Provider shall refer to any recruitment/manning agency, association of recruitment/manning agencies, non-government organizations (NGO), network of NGOs, or other entities authorized to engage in the provision of PDOS. 3. PDOS Trainer shall refer to an individual who has successfully completed the OWWA or POEA Training Program for PDOS management, or for PDOS trainers/ facilitators, and who has registered at OWWA as a PDOS Trainer. 4. Network of NGOs shall refer to a duly registered group of NGOs whose main concern is the general interest and welfare of OFWs as stated in their by-laws and other ir1corporation documents. 5. Entities shall refer to local or international institutions concerned with migrant workers, operating legitimately under Philippine laws.

2 6. Vulnerable Occupational Groups shall refer to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who are known to be more susceptible to abuses of their employers, by reason of their sex or nature of work. B. POLICY DIRECTIONS ON PDOS IMPLEMENTATION 1. PDOS shall be implemented from a welfare perspective. It shall be a major component of OWWA's information and education program for its members, and shall be regarded as an integral part of the over-all program of government for the protection and welfare of OFWs. 2. PDOS shall be pursued in such a way that OFWs will appreciate their participation, not as mere compliance with a government regulati9n, but as a key factor towards their personal success in overseas employment. Program implementers must therefore optimize the use of motivational modes in the delivery of PDOS. 3. PDOS shall have a course design which addresses the basic needs of OFWs for an orientation only. Overloading PDOS with too much information shall be avoided. Focus shall be on enabling an OFW cope with adjustment difficulties usually experienced by an OFW within the first six (6) months or work and stay at overseas jobsites. 4. Other broader and deeper OFW information and education concerns, which cannot be covered in an orientation scheme due to inherent need for longer time and progressive learning processes, shall be referred to implementors of pre-employment counseling programs, and/or other related OWWA programs delivered during the other phases of an OFW employment, either on site, or upon return/reintegration to the country. 5. The primary responsibility of deploying agencies to provide PDOS to OFWs, about two weeks prior to deployment schedule, shall always be emphasized. 6. Recruitment and. manning agencies may designate their industry associations and other registered providers for the PDOS of their recruits, subject to compliance "with the policies, guidelines, systems and procedures hereto provided. 7. OWWA shall optimize the potentials of partnership with NGOs, the private, sector, and other government institutions in pursuing the new visions for PDOS as indicated in this MOl. 8. Attendance to PDOS shall be free of charge on the part of the OFWs. Modest fees previously authorized by POEA may be allowed for program

3 "maintenance and upkeep" purposes; provided that said fees shall be borne by the endorsing or sponsoring agency. C. GENERAL GUIDELINES ON REGISTRATION 1. POEA-accredited Agency-NGO PDOS Providers and Trainers are.deemed registered at OWWA. However, PDOS Providers shall adopt the changes in PDOS curriculum and submit the prescribed documentary requirements. Trainers shall attend the prescribed retooling sessions and submit documentary requirements upon receipt of notice from OWWA. 2. Registration of New PDOS Providers and Trainers Registration for new PDOS Providers shall be open to recruitment and manning agencies or their industry associations; NGOs or network of NGOs for "vulnerable occupational groups"; and entities with special or specific programs for the general interest and welfare of OFWs, including those which are supported or required by labor -receiving countries. 3. Change/Establishment of Additional Venue The registration of a POOS Provider shall be effective only for the specific venue and geographical location as applied for, inspected, and recorded at OWWA. A registered POOS Provider shall duly notify OVVWA in case of need for change of venue, or establishment of additional venues. OWWA shall thence subject the notice to appropriate procedures to effect modification in the registration records of the PDOS Provider. D. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES 1. Requisites for Registration PDOS Provider applicants may only register at OVVWA Workers Information and Education Center (WIEC) if they meet the following requisites: a) Must be duly licensed or recognized by, the appropriate government agency for their current field of operation; b) Must have a PDOS Trainer duly registered at OWWA; c) Must have a venue conducive for learning as to space, ventilation, lighting, restroom facilities and equipment required by the usual volume of agency institution PDOS participants; and

4 d) Must have at least one (1) whiteboard; one (1) overhead projector; one (1) television set; one (1) vcd player; and appropriate audio equipment. 2. Documentary Requirements for Registration New PDOS Provider applicants shall submit the documentary requirements hereunder enumerated upon filing of application for registration. Providers previously accredited by POEA shall likewise submit such documents upon receipt of corresponding advice from WIEC-OWWA. a) Accomplished Application Form; b) Trainer's bio-data and copy of Certificate of Participation / Completion of PDOS Trainer's Training; c) Copy of license to operate from POEA (in case of recruitment manning agencies); d) Copy of incorporation/registration documents and literature on institutional mission and operations (in case of NGOs and other entities) 3. Qualification Standards for PDOS Trainers PDOS Trainers may be registered at OWWA provided they meet the following qualification standards: a) Must be a college graduate. Deficiency in education may be substituted with 36 hours of related training for every year of deficiency; or 2 years of related experience for every year of deficiency; b) Must have shipboard experience for the sea-based sector and on-site experience for land-based workers, or must have been involved in training, research, administration, or undertakings relevant to overseas employment for at least three(3) years; c) Must exhibit good communication skills, fluent in English and Filipino; and d) Must have successfully completed the OWWA Trainer's Training for PDOS Management. 4. Documentary Requirements for PDOS Trainers For registration purposes, PDOS Trainers must submit the documents hereunder listed. Trainers previously accredited by POEA shall submit the same upon receipt of corresponding advice from WIEC-OWWA.

5 a) Duly accomplished application form; b) Certificate of employment stating current and previous positions; c) Copy of Certificate of Completion of OWWA Trainer's Training; d) Proof of highest educational attainment; and e) Relevant training certificates. In case of PDOS Trainers previously accredited by POEA, they shall.submit the POEA certificate of completion of PDOS Trainers Training in lieu of c) above. 5. Other Guidelines for PDOS Trainers a) Agency Liaison Officers are not qualified to apply as PDOS Trainers in concurrent capacity; b) Trainers must renew their registration at OWWA-WIEC every two (2) years. Renewal of registration shall be based on: 1. Favorable endorsement of agency/institution; and 2. Attendance to seminar, forum, or refresher course required by OWWA. E. MANAGEMENT ACTION ON APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION 1. PDOS Provider. a) The evaluation process for registration purposes shall be based on compliance with documentary requirements, availability of qualified PDOS Trainer, and favorable results of inspection of the identified PDOS venue. b) ROUs may facilitate the registration of PDOS Providers in their respective regions. The ROU Supervisor shall submit the inspectionreport with their recommendation to WIEC-OWWA for evaluation. c) Applications for registration at the NCR shall be directly filed at WIEC- OWWA. d) OWWA Administrator shall approve the qualification for registration. 2. PDOS Trainer a) Registration of PDOS Trainer shall be based on meeting the 1 qualification standards (OS) for PDOS Trainers, submission of

6 complete documentation requirements, and completion of the OWWAprescribed training or retooling sessions for PDOS Trainers. b) Trainers previously accredited by POEA may continue serving PDOS Providers and will be issued Certification of Registration upon completion of OWWA-prescribed retooling session. 3. Certificate of Registration The certificate of Registration for PDOS Providers and Trainers shall be signed by the OWWA Administrator upon recommendation of WIEC. F. PDOS AT POEA AND OWWA REGIONAL OFFICES 1. Pursuant to POEA-OWWA Joint Circular No.04, Series of 2002, POEA shall conduct PDOS for GPB-placed and name-hired workers. 2. Registered PDOS Providers shall conduct PDOS for the National Capital Region (NCR). 3. In all other regions, the Regional OWWA Units (ROU) shall conduct PDOS until such time that the volume of participants would necessitate the services of registered PDOS Providers. G. REPORTING, MONITORING AND EV ALUA TION 1. Reporting System PDOS providers are required to adopt the PDOS Report Form prescribed by OWWA. The following specific guidelines shall likewise be observed: a) The monthly PDOS Report Form shall be submitted within the first 15 days of each month; b) The names of workers, date of PDOS and skills/ ratings or positions, country of destination and certificate of attendance control number shall be indicated; and

7 c) The report for a particular month shall indicate the total number of male and female participants, broken down into new hires and rehires. 2. Monitoring and Evaluation System OWWA-WIEC shall conduct monitoring and evaluation of PDOS implementation. It shall use standard monitoring and evaluation schemes as hereunder provided. a) PDOS participants shall be required to rate the over-all conduct of PDOS and the delivery of PDOS modules by trainers. Activity evaluation instruments/forms shall be developed and prescribed for this purpose. b) Duly designated OVVVVA officers and staff who have been recommended and oriented by WIEC shall conduct unannounced inspection/observation missions focused on the following major concerns: 1. Compliance with PDOS Curriculum; 2. Quality of PDOS Materials; 3. Compliance with PDOS Reports/other requirements; and 4. Trainer Performance. c) The PDOS Curriculum presented during the OVV\fl/A, Consultation/Dialogue Series with PDOS Providers shall serve as reference material for monitoring and evaluation purposes" upon its formal adoption and distribution. d) The monitoring instrument will be co-signed by the Trainer and the OVVVVA Officer who conducted the monitoring or evaluation process. e) Recommended improvements will be immediately relayed to the top management of the agency, entity, or NGO concerned. H. REVOCATION OF REGISTRATION Non-cooperation of PDOS Providers in pursuing the recommended improvements of OWWA-WIEC Program Monitoring and Evaluation Team after a year from receipt of corresponding notice, shall cause the revocation of registration at OWWA. The same shall be reported accordingly to POEA for appropriate action.

8 I. PDOS ADVISORY COUNCIL 1. OWWA shall sustain the previously established PDOS Advisory Council (PAC) for purposes of consultations and enhancement of partnerships for development efforts on PDOS concerns. 2. Representatives from the NGO-PDOS providers, recruitment and manning industry associations, and network of registered providers and trainers shall comprise the PAC. As may be necessary, professionals and experts may be invited to participate in P AC meetings. 3. PAC shall meet regularly as may be agreed upon by its members. 4. OWWA-WIEC shall provide secretariat services for PAC activities. J. EFFECTIVITY This Memorandum of Instructions shall take effect upon compliance with the usual publication requirements. (Sgd) DELMER R. CRUZ Deputy Administrator and Officer-in-Charge 25 July 2003 wiec-rm/rsmf