1. WHAT IS OWWA?
A DOLE-attached agency mandated to provide welfare services and benefits to OWWA member-OFWs and ensure capital build-up and fund viability.
2. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN OWWA MEMBER?
An OWWA member-OFW is entitled to services and benefits over and above the provisions of the employment contract, offer of employers or the laws of the receiving country. For a US$25.00 or HK$200.00 membership contribution, an OWWA member is entitled to the following benefits and services.
* Insurance and Health Care Program Benefits
a. Life/Accident Insurance. A member is covered with life insurance for the duration of his employment contract. The coverage includes P100,000.00 for natural death and P200,000.00 for accidental death.
b. Disability and Dismemberment Benefits. A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefits as a rider provision of his life insurance as provided for in the impediment schedule contained in the Manual of Systems and Procedures. The coverage is within the range of P2,000.00 to P50,000.00.
c. Total Disability Benefit. In case of total permanent disability a member is entitled to P100,000.00.
d. Burial Benefit. A burial benefit of P20,000.00 shall be provided in case of the member's death.
* Education and Training Programs
An OFW OWWA member may avail for himself/herself of his/her duly designated beneficiary any of the following scholarship programs, subject to selection process and accrediation of participating institutions.
1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP).
This program offers P30,000.00 per semester for the university education of qualified dependent of member OFWs.
2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) for technical or vocational training scholarship.
Financial assistance amounting to P7,250.00 for the 6-month course or P14,500.00 for the 1-year course shall be provided.
3. Seafarer's Upgrading Program (SUP) to ensure the competitive advantage of Filipino seafarers in meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) competency standards.
A member seafarer shall be entitled to one upgrading program for every (3) three membership contributions. Qualified grantees shall be provided with training assistance minimum P1,200.00 to a maximum of P7,500.00.
4. DOLE-OWWA Tulay Microsoft Project provides OFWs IT training and access to technology that will enable them and their families to communicate through the internet.
The Tulay or Bridge Education Program is a part of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative aimed at providing technology and skills for underserved individuals. OFWs and their families learn the basics of computer applications such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel as well as internet and e-mail use.
Through Tulay, the OWWA expects OFWs to gain IT skills that will enhance their work, thus increasing their value in the workplace. These new IT skills can further help them become more competitive in pursuing a career in the country upon their return.
Tulay-Aral Project (SPECIAL PROJECT)
The Tuloy-Aral Project was launched last December 2004 with the objective of assisting the children of less fortunate former OFWs as well as other poor and needy elementary and high school children. The DOLE and the OWWA regional offices, with the assistance of DSWD, identify children of former OFWs needing financial assistance to send to school.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) are tasked to promote and identify OFWs who are successful, financially stable and in good standing to act as prospective foster parents. OFW organizations may also volunteer to act as foster parents.
Identified foster parents are requested to provide a US$100.00 financial support per year to the children-beneficiary to enable him/her to continue his/her elementary or high school education. The amount will help cover for expenses such as books, school supplies, materials for projects, transportation, authorized school contributions, and allowance for the whole school year.
* Social Services and Family Welfare Assistance
Repatriation Program.
Members may avail of repatriation services whenever necessary.
Reintegration Program.
Members may avail of the Reintegration Program of the Department of Labor and EMployment. This includes community organizing, capability building and social preparation programs and livelihood loans.
The OWWA-NLSF LDPO Project
This program is a joint undertaking of OWWA and NAtional Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) to address the economic component of the OFW Reintegration Program. It is meant to further improve access to entrpreneurial development opportunities and credit facilities ti OFWs, their ramilies and organizations. Possible enterprises include: (a) trading (general merchandise and buy and sell, etc.), (b) services (repair shops, restaurants, parlors, etc.), (c) manufacturing (meat/fruit processing, shoes, etc.), and (d) agri-business (tilapia culture, piggery, poultry, etc.).
The OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program now has two (2) loan packages:
1. Collateral Loan Window
1.a Individual Borrower, P200,000.00 maximum per qualified borrower.
1.b Group Loan Borrower, P100,000.00 maximum per group.
2. Non-Collateral Loan Window P50,000.00 (maximum per qualified borrower)
OFW GROCERIA PROJECT an interest-free loan assistance package extended in the form of merchandise goods worth P50,000.00 per qualified OFW Family Circle (OFC) beneficiary nationwide.
* Workers Assistance and On-Site Services
Members may avail of on-site assistance such as locating the OFWs, providing information and guidance, developing materials of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS), conducting Post Arrival Orientation SEminar (PAOS), employment/psycho-social counseling, conciliation services, computation of contractual claims, hospital visitation, para-legal assistance, and outreach missions, among others.
3. HOW CAN ONE BE AN OWWA MEMBER?
a. By enrollment upon processing of contract of POEA; and
b. by voluntary registration of OFWs at job-sites overseas.
4. HOW MUCH IS THE OWWA MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION?
The membership contribution is US$25.00 or HK$200.00.
5. WHEN IS THE EFFECTIVITY OF MEMBERSHIP?
OWWA membership, either through compulsory or voluntary coverages, shall be effective upon payment of membership contribution until expiration of the employment contract. In case of voluntary members who register on-site, membership coverage shall not exceed two (2) years. MEmbership shall be renewed upon payment of contribution on contract renewal/issuance of new contract.
6. WHERE CAN ONE PAY HIS OWWA MEMBERSHIP?
OWWA membership contribution can be made at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) contract processing hub, OWWA regional and overseas offices, and other accredited collection centers.
A DOLE-attached agency mandated to provide welfare services and benefits to OWWA member-OFWs and ensure capital build-up and fund viability.
2. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN OWWA MEMBER?
An OWWA member-OFW is entitled to services and benefits over and above the provisions of the employment contract, offer of employers or the laws of the receiving country. For a US$25.00 or HK$200.00 membership contribution, an OWWA member is entitled to the following benefits and services.
* Insurance and Health Care Program Benefits
a. Life/Accident Insurance. A member is covered with life insurance for the duration of his employment contract. The coverage includes P100,000.00 for natural death and P200,000.00 for accidental death.
b. Disability and Dismemberment Benefits. A member is entitled to disability/dismemberment benefits as a rider provision of his life insurance as provided for in the impediment schedule contained in the Manual of Systems and Procedures. The coverage is within the range of P2,000.00 to P50,000.00.
c. Total Disability Benefit. In case of total permanent disability a member is entitled to P100,000.00.
d. Burial Benefit. A burial benefit of P20,000.00 shall be provided in case of the member's death.
* Education and Training Programs
An OFW OWWA member may avail for himself/herself of his/her duly designated beneficiary any of the following scholarship programs, subject to selection process and accrediation of participating institutions.
1. Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP).
This program offers P30,000.00 per semester for the university education of qualified dependent of member OFWs.
2. Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program (SESP) for technical or vocational training scholarship.
Financial assistance amounting to P7,250.00 for the 6-month course or P14,500.00 for the 1-year course shall be provided.
3. Seafarer's Upgrading Program (SUP) to ensure the competitive advantage of Filipino seafarers in meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) competency standards.
A member seafarer shall be entitled to one upgrading program for every (3) three membership contributions. Qualified grantees shall be provided with training assistance minimum P1,200.00 to a maximum of P7,500.00.
4. DOLE-OWWA Tulay Microsoft Project provides OFWs IT training and access to technology that will enable them and their families to communicate through the internet.
The Tulay or Bridge Education Program is a part of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential (UP), a global initiative aimed at providing technology and skills for underserved individuals. OFWs and their families learn the basics of computer applications such as MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel as well as internet and e-mail use.
Through Tulay, the OWWA expects OFWs to gain IT skills that will enhance their work, thus increasing their value in the workplace. These new IT skills can further help them become more competitive in pursuing a career in the country upon their return.
Tulay-Aral Project (SPECIAL PROJECT)
The Tuloy-Aral Project was launched last December 2004 with the objective of assisting the children of less fortunate former OFWs as well as other poor and needy elementary and high school children. The DOLE and the OWWA regional offices, with the assistance of DSWD, identify children of former OFWs needing financial assistance to send to school.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) are tasked to promote and identify OFWs who are successful, financially stable and in good standing to act as prospective foster parents. OFW organizations may also volunteer to act as foster parents.
Identified foster parents are requested to provide a US$100.00 financial support per year to the children-beneficiary to enable him/her to continue his/her elementary or high school education. The amount will help cover for expenses such as books, school supplies, materials for projects, transportation, authorized school contributions, and allowance for the whole school year.
* Social Services and Family Welfare Assistance
Repatriation Program.
Members may avail of repatriation services whenever necessary.
Reintegration Program.
Members may avail of the Reintegration Program of the Department of Labor and EMployment. This includes community organizing, capability building and social preparation programs and livelihood loans.
The OWWA-NLSF LDPO Project
This program is a joint undertaking of OWWA and NAtional Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) to address the economic component of the OFW Reintegration Program. It is meant to further improve access to entrpreneurial development opportunities and credit facilities ti OFWs, their ramilies and organizations. Possible enterprises include: (a) trading (general merchandise and buy and sell, etc.), (b) services (repair shops, restaurants, parlors, etc.), (c) manufacturing (meat/fruit processing, shoes, etc.), and (d) agri-business (tilapia culture, piggery, poultry, etc.).
The OWWA-NLSF Livelihood Development Program now has two (2) loan packages:
1. Collateral Loan Window
1.a Individual Borrower, P200,000.00 maximum per qualified borrower.
1.b Group Loan Borrower, P100,000.00 maximum per group.
2. Non-Collateral Loan Window P50,000.00 (maximum per qualified borrower)
OFW GROCERIA PROJECT an interest-free loan assistance package extended in the form of merchandise goods worth P50,000.00 per qualified OFW Family Circle (OFC) beneficiary nationwide.
* Workers Assistance and On-Site Services
Members may avail of on-site assistance such as locating the OFWs, providing information and guidance, developing materials of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS), conducting Post Arrival Orientation SEminar (PAOS), employment/psycho-social counseling, conciliation services, computation of contractual claims, hospital visitation, para-legal assistance, and outreach missions, among others.
3. HOW CAN ONE BE AN OWWA MEMBER?
a. By enrollment upon processing of contract of POEA; and
b. by voluntary registration of OFWs at job-sites overseas.
4. HOW MUCH IS THE OWWA MEMBERSHIP CONTRIBUTION?
The membership contribution is US$25.00 or HK$200.00.
5. WHEN IS THE EFFECTIVITY OF MEMBERSHIP?
OWWA membership, either through compulsory or voluntary coverages, shall be effective upon payment of membership contribution until expiration of the employment contract. In case of voluntary members who register on-site, membership coverage shall not exceed two (2) years. MEmbership shall be renewed upon payment of contribution on contract renewal/issuance of new contract.
6. WHERE CAN ONE PAY HIS OWWA MEMBERSHIP?
OWWA membership contribution can be made at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) contract processing hub, OWWA regional and overseas offices, and other accredited collection centers.