The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is an organization under the Philippine government and an affiliated agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Under the Migrant Workers Office, OWWA has 31 posts across 27 countries all over the world. Its main goal is to protect the welfare and safety of Filipino workers abroad and their family.
If you want to work in another country, you need to process all your work documents in the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). If you process your documents in DMW, you will be tagged as ‘documented’ or ‘legal’ and will automatically be a member of OWWA. This means that you are protected if you need whether it’s a financial problem, health problem, or emergency.
OWWA makes sure that Overseas Filipino workers can work in a safe environment and that there is an agency that they can lean on.
Requirements to become an OWWA member
The list below is a general requirement needed to become a member of OWWA. However, the requirements may vary depending on where the OWWA offices are located. They might give additional requirements but the requirements listed here will always be asked in any OWWA office.
- OWWA memebership Form
- Photocopy of Passport (data and photo in your passport)
- Employment pass/work permit card
- Employment contract
- Membership fee
You may check the OWWA website or the OWWA office if you are staying in the Philippines or visit Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) which is now called MWP in your host country.
How to apply for OWWA membership?
There are two ways to apply for OWWA membership. You can either go to OWWA Regional Welfare Office near you or simply go through their website.
How to apply to OWWA Regional Welfare Office?
The first thing you have to do is to gather all the documents needed listen above to apply for OWWA membership. Then go to www.owwa.gov.ph and download the OWWA OFW Information Sheet, print it, and fill it out. Once you have completed it, you can visit the OWWA agency near you and submit the requirements you have. The officers in OWWA will guide you and give you instructions for the next steps. Last, pay the membership fee and wait for the official receipt. After paying, you will be automatically a member of OWWA for two years.
How to process OWWA membership online?
The first thing you have to do is to gather all the documents needed listen above to apply for OWWA membership. Then go to www.owwa.gov.ph and download the OWWA OFW Information Sheet and fill it out. Once you have completed it, visit the OWWA website of the country you will work in. Check the email address where you can send your documents. Once they received and checked it, they will send a separate email with your official receipt for the membership fee. Follow the instructions on how to pay for it. After paying, you will be automatically a member of OWWA for two years.
How much is the OWWA membership fee?
The OWWA membership fee varies from Php 1,000 to Php 1,500 depending on the foreign currency equivalent of the destination country.
How long is the validity of OWWA membership?
The validity of OWWA membership is from the time you pay for the membership fee and must be renewed every two (2) years until the end of your employment contract.
What are the benefits of OWWA membership?
Being a member of OWWA means you are a legal Filipino worker and thus legible for all benefits and protection that the government can offer.
- Education and Training. This program aims to provide help in preparing for deployment and provide training and skills for the OFWs and their families.
- Reintegration Programs. This program provides help for OFWs who want to go back and work in the Philippines.
- Repatriation Assistance Benefits. This program aims to provide help for Filipino workers who are stranded and those who are already deceased to back home and be with their families. This program includes:
- Airport assistance
- Psychological counselling
- Stress debriefing
- Temporary shelter
- Transport service to their provinces
- Social Benefits. This program aims to provide assistance to any unexpected circumstances such as natural calamity, death of a family, illness, and medical treatment.
- Welfare Programs. This program protects Filipino workers from financial hardship and gives support on how they will walk through life aboard.
OWWA gives onsite assistance and services to Filipino workers at their job sites. They provide assistance such as:
- Airport assistance
- Assistance with the location of the OFW
- hospital/prison/work camp visitations
- Legal assistance to OFWs
- Psychosocial counseling
- mediation/conciliation with the employer
OWWA also provides in-country assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families in the Philippines. They provide assistance such as:
- Post-Repatriation assistance
- Referrals
- Request of families/next-of-kins (NOKs) from OWWA overseas post for assistance
- Stress debriefing or counseling
- Temporary shelter at the OWWA halfway house
- Transportation allowance to their provinces
How to renew the OWWA membership?
The procedure for renewing your OWWA membership depends on the country you are working in. It is highly advisable for an OFW to check the process from MWO-OWWA official website or go directly to their office in your host country.
How to renew the OWWA membership with OWWA mobile app?
Renewing your OWWA membership varies depending on what country you are in. Some of them will ask you to renew it in their office together with other OFWs who want to renew their membership, too. If you are unlucky, you might spend half a day waiting in line. Luckily, there is an easier way to renew your OWWA membership. You can do so through OWWA mobile app and by following these steps:
- Download the OWWA mobile app in Google Play or App Store on your smartphone.
- Sign up and create an account or log in with your account if you already have one.
- Check your profile to see your employment contract.
- Click the “INFORMATION” in the app to see the status of your membership. If you see the word “INACTIVE” there, just click the “RENEW MEMBERSHIP HERE”.
- After clicking the “RENEW MEMBERSHIP HERE”, fill out the information being asked in the app to process the payment.
- You can choose the most convenient payment method, and then click “SUBMIT”.
- After paying the membership fee, check your membership status again. If you see “ACTIVE” then you successfully renewed your membership with OWWA.
Video: Check this video on how to sign up and check your membership status on the OWWA app
Frequently Ask Questions
1. What is OWWA?
OWWA or Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is a government agency that aims to develop and implement welfare programs and services to Overseas Filipino Workers.
2. Who needs OWWA membership?
All Filipino workers abroad are mandated to be a member of OWWA. Being a member means that an OFW is documented and a legal worker and is legible to life insurance and other social benefits given by OWWA.
3. How much is the OWWA membership fee?
OWWA membership fee varies from Php 1,000 to Php 1,500 depending on the foreign currency equivalent to their host country.
4. How to become a member of OWWA?
You have to secure all the documents needed such as:
- OWWA memebership Form
- Photocopy of Passport (data and photo in your passport)
- Employment pass/work permit card
- Employment contract
- Membership fee
You can go to OWWA Regional Offices near you to submit your documents or you can check their website www.owwa.gov.ph.
5. When can I renew my OWWA membership?
Filipino workers should renew their membership every two (2) years regardless of their contract duration, change of employer, job site, or recruitment agency.
6. What is the purpose of OWWA membership?
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) aims to protect and promotes the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families. All OWWA members are eligible for all different kinds of benefits and programs such as Social Benefits, Education and Training, Repatriation, and Reintegration Services.
7. Can I renew my OWWA membership without renewing my contract?
OFWs should provide proof of active employment when renewing their membership with OWWA.
8. Can I walk in the OWWA office without an appointment?
Some offices require online appointment before going to their office to control the volume of people going there and for health safety purposes. You need to check the OWWA office you are going to visit if they need you to book an appointment first.
Summary
All Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are mandated to be part of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). This is proof that Filipino workers are documented and legal workers abroad and thus entitled to the agency’s benefits and programs. They will receive protection from the Philippine government and their host country. Their beneficiaries are also entitled to other benefits and programs from OWWA.
OWWA makes sure that all Filipino workers are safe and not abused. They make sure Filipino Workers can go back to society and the workforce once they decided to go back to the Philippines by giving them counseling, training, and financial aid.