FILIPINO GUIDE FOR WORKING IN MALAYSIA -DIRECT HIRE (DEC 2018)

If you are aspiring to work outside the country specifically Malaysia on your own, meaning you applied thru online and hired directly by the company without the help of agency, then you most probably need to read this. If you don’t have any experience at all in working outside the Philippines, utang na loob basahin mo to. As a direct hire, you will be doing all your papers and everything on your own, hence I shared here my personal experience to guide you and give you tips to make your life less miserable while you’re at it.

Secure a job from the company.

• This means you already have the job and already gave you a job offer
• Need to submit:
  • Copy of your passport at least 2 years (All pages of the passport back-to-back kahit walang laman lol!).
  • Inform them what branch of Embassy of Malaysia you prefer to get your visa. (Davao or Makati)
  • They will then ask for the letter of approval/permit to Malaysian government (MDEC) to hire you. Take note this is crucial since the job offer is void and null if this is rejected.
  • The waiting time is 7-13 days. If approved, they will email you the approval letter and then you can apply for visa in embassy of Malaysia.

IMPORTANT:  It is imperative to ask your employer if they already have employed a Filipino in the past. In my case, they don’t have yet so they don’t have any idea what do I need to do here in the PH.

Firstly, OEC issued by POEA is MANDATORY to all people working or will work outside the country, in short for OFW. Yes! You already counted as OFW which I’m not aware at the time since I don’t know, am young and super dumb? Otherwise, the immigration in the airport will not allow you to board and trust me, I know.

If you check out the requirement on how to get OEC in POEA, you will need to have authenticated contract from POLO/PH embassy in KL Malaysia. Ask your employer to prepare all necessary documents for this because this will take a lot of time (in my case 1 month). Send them this link for the list of requirement they need to do on their end. http://www.philembassykl.org.my/main/index.php/labor-services/employment-contracts

Be proactive and ask them about this requirement. Once the contract is approved, they need to courier it to you in the Philippines. Courier FEDEX only take 1 day.

Apply for VISA in Embassy of Malaysia

• Requirements:
  • MDEC approval letter from Step 1.
  • Original Passport and two (2) photocopies
  • Two (2) photocopies of visa application form (Form IMM.47)
  • Two (2) passport size photograph of applicant
  • Processing fee – 1350
  • I went to Embassy of Malaysia in Makati. Bring any valid ID for the guard at the gate, the office is creepy on the outside but nice on the inside and all the people there are super nice.

After you submit all items above and filed up all the forms, they will give you estimated day when can you get the visa but you need to wait for call first for confirmation.

• You will get a call and text informing you that your visa is ready!. Usually it is on the 7^th working day but it takes me 11 working days because of incorrect detail so make sure you have checked and rechecked all details.

TAKE NOTE! Since Im green and excited when I get the approval letter, I did not bother to check the document aside from my name if all details are correct (I mean, this is very important letter, you genius!). Turns out, the passport number written in the letter is incorrect!. The embassy representative called me on the 4^th day to inform me on this and then gives me her email address so that I can just email instead of going back to the embassy.

I told our HR and they resend for amendment which takes 4 days to be corrected. Once I got the letter, I emailed it to the embassy.

Get OEC in POEA

Below are the requirements I summarized based on what you need and steps how to get them. Please read carefully.

• Requirements – Phase 1
  • Passport and visa
  • Employment contract – Authenticated by the POLO/Philippine embassy in KL, Malaysia.

**This includes already all other documents like company details, job offer, MDEC letter, insurance, etc.

• Others:
  • COE from previous company
  • Diploma AND TOR
  • PRC if applicable (Im COE so I don’t have one)
  • CV or Resume
  • Notarized statement on how the worker secured the employment and photocopy of employers ID and contact details.

• Requirements – Phase 2
  • Medical Certificate accredited by DOH. You can find the list on their website
  • Register and print registration in POEA website
  • Pre-Employment Orientation Seminar (PEOS)
  • Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)

Is it too much? Fret not, because I am taking you step by step on how to finish this.

Step 1 Document. Your priority is the requirement in Phase 1. This will take 1 day only excluding if you still don’t have the authenticated contract. They allowed scan copy if you still don’t have the original copy like on my case.                

• 1 photocopy of passport and visa
• Scan copy or photocopy of contract
• All document in Phase 1 (iii. Others). I don’t need to explain this cause it should be basic.
• The notarized statement is a simple letter stating how do you get the job and find notary public. You can notarize in computer shop near the POE office for only 50 pesos.

Example: (just an example, not template)

Note: Priority is Phase 1 requirement but you can now also have your medical examination if you have time, just make sure that it is DOH accredited. I got mine from CliniCoMed at Malate for 6-7K. It is more expensive for female because there are additional tests that are only for us girls (e.g. pregnancy test)

Step 2 Submit document for Phase 1. You may now proceed to POEA and “Direct Hire Office” is located at 2^nd floor. I don’t bother with the elevator since its only second floor and stairs is just beside it. Go to left side when you got to the 2^nd floor (or ask someone where is direct hire). Approach the guard and ask for queue number for evaluation of documents and wait for your number.

                When your number is called just give all the documents that you have and the representative will check all of it based on the checklist form that they have for about 3 minutes while you sign necessary documents for them. If it is complete, they ask you to sit and wait for 15-20 minutes more.

                They will explain the next step when they called you again, in my case; some insurance coverage is missing so I need a signed compliance letter from my employer.

You may go home now and to wait for your name to appear in POEA website for you to proceed to Phase 2 (2-3 days). http://www.poea.gov.ph/dhclearance/directhires.html

OR if you still have time, you may pay for Philhealth membership (PHP2,400) at the 1^st floor. Ask the information desk where it is. It is mandatory and can do it any time before getting the OEC.

Once you got home from Phase 1, prepare for Phase 2:

• You need to register and print information form from https://eservices.poea.gov.ph
• Take peos seminar (eLearning) with quiz and print result/certificate from http://www.peos.poea.gov.ph
• Print the POEA Clearance letter from http://www.poea.gov.ph/dhclearance/directhires.html
• Medical Examination

Step 3 Seminars and Fee Phase 2.

• Requirements:
• Original copy of contract
• Passport and 1 photocopy
• Printed E-services form (mentioned above)
• Printed PEOS certificate (mentioned above)
• Printed POEA Clearance (mentioned above)
• Medical Certificate original and Photocopy
• PDOS

Malaysia PDOS seminar’s schedule starts at 9am to 11 30am. So make sure to arrive before 9am.  When you arrive at the Direct-Hire office, present the clearance with your name and passport to the guard and he will give you queue number.

Your name will be called and they will give you form to fill up and then you may proceed to OWWA office which is 2 rooms away from Direct-Hire. The guard then will ask for your photocopy of passport and ask you to go inside for the seminar.

There are 4 different speakers and topics. First is all about Philhealth services and fees. Second and third is about the OWWA and POEA services and OFW related and lastly from the non-government organization which purpose is to give us mental, emotional and spiritual boost. After the seminar, PDOS certificate will be distributed, make sure to have a photocopy of it before going back to Direct-Hire office. (There is photocopy machine just outside the OWWA office and on the 1^st floor)

Final Check and Payment

Go back to Direct-Hire office once you photocopy your PDOS and get queue number to the guard telling him you are done with pdos.

Your number will be called and they will ask you all the requirements listed above, and then they will tell you to wait again which will take 30-40 minutes.

Once they cleared your entire document, proceed to cashier window 9 for payment of PHP6 902.50. The receipt will be your OEC and should be in triple copy.

TIPS:

• Ask for the contract authenticated by the POLO/Embassy of Malaysia once you got the MDEC approval. (See step 1)
• While waiting to complete Phase 1, it is better to have you medical examination to prepare in advance for Phase 2.
• There is a computer shop with photocopy, scan and print inside the POEA in CAFETERIA. Ask the Information desk for the direction.
• Alternatively, there is a computer shop with photocopy, scan, print and NOTARY outside the POEA building about 3 stores away. Ask the guard for direction.
• There is photocopy machine same floor of Direct-hire just outside the office.
• You can pay Philhealth anytime at the 1^st floor near the CAFETERIA.
• Always ask for the next step clearly.

 Checkout Related Page: Change Job in Malaysia 2020: VISA Application Process