The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), is the body of the government to assist OFWs in their journey. Since there are a handful of Filipinos who are working abroad, they also have different experiences. These experiences include being victimized by fake recruiters, get abused by their employers, and they even get extorted by government employees and fixers. Given this fact, the POEA has a division where OFWs can file complaints and ask for counseling.
POEA’s Legal Assistance segment is the division where the public can ask for the following:
The preparation and filing of complaints. This is for illegal recruitment, recruitment violation, and disciplinary action cases
Legal advice on the other hand is to provide counseling services to workers sent back and those who are informed of their rights and possible options for redress of grievances.
Another is the conciliation. This is then to give repatriated workers and their recruitment agencies a time to discuss the possibility of amicable settlement.
Lastly, counseling during preliminary investigation and hearings of criminal cases for illegal recruitment.
If you are part of the scenarios mentioned above, then you are on the right page. In order for you to be provided with Legal Assistance, follow the following steps:
1. First step is to go to the Legal Assistance Division at the 4th Floor of the POEA Central Office. Secure a verification form and Fill it up.
2. Submit the duly accomplished form at Window 3. Licensing Branch is located at the 4th Floor; it is for verification of status of agencies/persons.
3. Deployed workers are required to secure an OFW Information Sheet from the Central Records Division; this is at the 6th Floor.
4. Submit the verified OFW Information Sheet to the Legal Assistance Division Officer and wait for them to call your name.
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