The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified that its identification system for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be issued to migrant workers for free.
“Huwag kayo maniwala (na may bayad ang ID). Maliwanag na ang ibibigay na ID sa OFWs ay walang bayad. Libre po ‘yan at walang gagastusin ang ating OFW. Kung may nagsasabi man, nambobola ‘yan o kaya gusto kumotong,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a TV interview.
Bello’s statement came as a comment after reports that OFWs who tried to apply for their IDs were charged P501— P701 for the card and P200 for the delivery charge, contrary to previous announcements that the ID will be issued and will be delivered via PhilPost.
However, he said employers or recruitment agencies will have to pay to process OFWs’ Integrated DOLE (iDOLE) cards.
“Depende na yan sa paguusap ng technical people, maaring employer, maaring recruitment agency. Basta inportante walang babayaran ang OFWs.”
Bello said DOLE will make sure that employers will not force OFWs to shoulder the processing of their IDs.
“Bawal ‘yan. May penalty yan or baka makansela ang license nila pag ginawa nila yan dahil maliwanag libre ang OFW ID,” the DOLE chief added.
He added DOLE aims to release the implementing guidelines this month, but the ID cards will be released later.
“Ang ilalabas namin within one to two weeks ay ‘yung implementing guidelines. Siguro by first or second week of August ilalabas na natin ang mga IDs,” he said.
