How much does OWWA membership cost?

OWWA membership costs USD $25 per employment contract. It is valid until the expiration of your employment contract or 2 years from contract effectivity, whichever comes first. You can renew online at membership.owwa.gov.ph or at any MWO office abroad.

What is the difference between POLO and MWO?

POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) has been renamed to MWO (Migrant Workers Office) under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), created by RA 11641 in 2022. They provide the same services: contract verification, OEC issuance, labor dispute mediation, and welfare assistance.

What benefits do OWWA members receive?

OWWA members receive: death benefits (PHP 100,000-200,000), burial assistance (PHP 20,000), disability benefits (PHP 2,500-100,000), medical assistance (up to PHP 50,000), education scholarships for children, repatriation assistance, and reintegration programs.

How do I get an OEC abroad?

You can obtain an OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate) at any MWO office abroad, or process it online through DMW e-services. The OEC exempts you from travel tax and airport terminal fees when departing the Philippines.

OFW Services Abroad — OWWA, DMW & MWO Directory 2026

Comprehensive guide to government services available to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) operates 40+ Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) worldwide, providing contract verification, OEC issuance, labor dispute mediation, and welfare assistance.

OWWA 24/7 Hotline: 1348 (from the Philippines) | For emergencies abroad, contact your nearest Philippine Embassy ATN unit.

OWWA Membership

Membership Details

Fee: USD $25 per contract
Validity: Until contract expiry or 2 years
Active members: 2.6 million
Trust fund: PHP 21.3 billion

How to Join/Renew

Online: membership.owwa.gov.ph
Abroad: At any MWO/POLO office
Philippines: OWWA Regional Welfare Office
eCard: ecard.owwa.gov.ph

OWWA Benefits

Benefit	Amount	Eligibility
Natural Death	PHP 100,000	Active member at time of death
Accidental Death	PHP 200,000	Active member at time of death
Burial Assistance	PHP 20,000	Additional to death benefit
Total/Permanent Disability	PHP 50,000-100,000	Active member
Partial Disability	PHP 2,500-25,000	Active member
Medical Assistance	Up to PHP 50,000	Active member

Education Benefits

OWWA Scholarship: ~25,000 scholar slots (15,000 existing + 10,000 new slots 2025-2026)
Tuloy-Aral Project (TAP): USD $100 per child per year for elementary, high school, and tertiary
Education & Livelihood Assistance: For children of deceased or imprisoned OWWA members

MWO (Migrant Workers Office) Locations

Formerly POLO — now under DMW (RA 11641)

Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar
UAE: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Qatar: Doha
Kuwait: Kuwait City
Bahrain: Manama
Oman: Muscat

Asia

Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), Taiwan, Malaysia

Europe

Italy (Rome, Milan), UK (London), Spain, Greece

Americas

USA (Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles), Canada

OFW Deployment Process

Job matching via DMW-licensed recruitment agency or direct hire
Contract verification at MWO (within 5 working days)
Pre-departure requirements: PDOS, OWWA ($25), PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-IBIG, NBI, Medical
OEC issuance (Overseas Employment Certificate) — mandatory exit clearance
Deployment

Repatriation Assistance

OWWA provides repatriation for OFWs affected by:

Armed conflict or natural disasters
Employer abandonment or abuse
Medical emergencies
Death (repatriation of remains)

Contact: OWWA Hotline 1348 or nearest Philippine Embassy ATN unit.

OFW Quick Reference

OWWA fee: USD $25
Hotline: 1348
MWO offices: 40+
Active members: 2.6M
Death benefit: PHP 100-200K
DMW: dmw.gov.ph

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