TUCP backs Pag-IBIG membership for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has expressed its support for a new policy that makes Pag-IBIG membership a requisite for departing OFWs.

The policy is the offshoot of an agreement between the Pag-IBIG Fund and the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA), under which the latter shall include the collection of Pag-IBIG membership contributions in its system as a requirement for the issuance of the exit clearance or the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).

The POEA has started collecting an initial contribution of P600 from OFWs, equivalent to six months’ advanced contribution to Pag-IBIG.

Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary general, said the country’s largest labor confederation believes that mandatory Pag-IBIG membership is beneficial to OFWs, and that making it a part of POEA’s requirements “is the best way to ensure that they become members.”

“It is the role of POEA to promote the welfare of OFWs, and facilitating their registration as Pag-IBIG members is a way of doing that, as it gives them access to the Fund’s savings program,” Herrera said.

The POEA maintains a computerized system of documenting all OFWs, which includes a collection system for fees and premiums required for the issuance of an exit clearance.

“Tapping POEA is one of the best and most cost effective ways of registering OFWs as Pag-IBIG members,” he said.

Herrera also maintained that OFWs should not view POEA’s collection of Pag-IBIG contributions as an added burden. – Sheila Crisostomo, Pia Lee Brago (The Philippine Star)