What is an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC)

OEC stands for “Overseas Employment Certificate,” which is a document that Filipino workers need to secure before they can leave the Philippines to work abroad. The OEC is issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and serves as proof that the worker is a legitimate overseas Filipino worker (OFW) with a valid contract and is properly documented.

The OEC is required to be presented to the Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the airport or port of exit, and it serves as a clearance for the worker to leave the country. Without an OEC, Filipino workers may not be allowed to leave the Philippines to work abroad. The OEC also provides certain benefits and protections to OFWs, such as access to government services and assistance in case of emergencies or repatriation.