SKIL

FOR SKILLED WORKERS

The Philippine Government imposes a ban on direct hiring of Filipinos for work overseas. However, the following are / may be exempted from the ban on the following:

a. If the employer is

A member of the diplomatic corps.
If the employer is a member of an international organization.
Heads of state and government officials with the rank of at least deputy minister.

b. Other employers as may be allowed by the Department, such as:

Those provided in a, b, and c above who bear a lesser rank, if endorsed by the MWO or Head of Mission in the absence of MWO.
Professionals and skilled workers with duly executed verified/authenticated contracts containing terms and conditions over and above the standards set by the DMW. The number of professionals and skilled workers hired for the first time by the employer shall not exceed five (5). For the purpose of determining the number. Workers hired as a group shall be counted as one; or
Workers hired by a relative/family member who is permanent resident of the host country, except domestic workers (live-in caregiver/care worker or household service workers).

*Please be informed of the following requirements you need to submit for verification in order for you or your company to proceed with the process of hiring Filipino Skilled Worker directly from the Philippines thru the Department of Migrant Workers.

If the employer does not fall under the above categories, a DMW-Accredited agency must be utilized.

Below please find information on how to hire Filipino workers.

The recruitment of Filipino workers is done through a systematic recruitment network where foreign principals must course their manpower requirements DMW-licensed recruitment agencies (LRAs).

LRAs are either: 1) Landbased Agencies – any person (natural or juridicial) licensed by the POEA to recruit workers for all landbased jobs for and in behalf of its foreign principal; and 2) Seabased Agencies – any person (natural or juridical) licensed by the DMW to recruit seafarers to man/board vessels plying internationa sea lanes and other related maritime activities.

A prospective employer interested to hire the services of FIlipino workers can choose from the official list of LRAs available at the DMW website.

An employer who has identified a LRA must submit the recruitment documents to the nearest Migrant Workers Office at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate for verification. This process ascertains the existence of the company or project and thte need for FIlipino manpower.

LRAs charge service fees from the employers/principal as payment for services rendered. The service fees are defined by the industry.

LRAs are jointly and solidarily liable with the foreign employer for any and all claims arising out of the implementation of the employment involving Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

LRAs submit the employment documents of OFWs to DMW for registration and issuance of an exit clearance. The exit clearance comes in the form of an E-Receipt or an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) attesting/certifying to the regularity of a worker’s recruitment and documentation and ensures exemption from travel tax, airport terminal fee, and for clearance at the DMW Labor Assistance Counter (LAC) desk at the airport and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) counter, prior to departure. The E-Receipt or OEC serves as the workers guarantee tha he/she is covered by Philippine government protection and benefits.

Once the worker gets her visa and an LRA has been identified, the following documents need to be sent to our office for verification. The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) undertakes verification of labor documents such as employmeny contracts (individual and master), recruitment/manning agreements (including company registration), Special Power of Attorney (SPAs), and job orders/manpower requests, and other documents that may be required.

DIRECT HIRE

MWO Madrid shall verify the documents within the prescribed period of time.

The following documents are requested to be submitted:

Since there is a ban on direct hiring under existing albor laws, rules and regulations, MWO shall require the submission of proof of existence and legitimacy of the employer’s business such as employer’s Business License, registration or other proof that shows financial capacity of the employer to hire the OFW.

1. Contract with English translation (free translation will do) signed on all pages by the employer- 1 original plus 1 photocopy

The following provisions must be in contract or as addenda:

During the death of the Employee during the terms of this agreement, his remains and personal belongings shall be repatriated to the Philippines to the expense of the Employer. In case the repatriatopn of remains is not possible, the same may be disposed of upon prior approval of the Employee’s next of kin and or by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate nearest the job site.

2. Termination:

Neither party may unilaterally cancel the contract except for legal, just and valid cause/s.

a. Termination by Employer – The Employer may terminate this contract on grounds of closure or cessation of operation of the establishment/undertaking or due to retrenchment to prevent loses, by serving a written notice to the employee at least one (1) month before the intended date therefore or payment of separation/ termination
pay equivalent to one (1) month salary. The Employer shall bear the repatriation expenses of the Employee. The Employer may also terminate this Contract on the
following causes: serious misconduct, willful disobedient of Employer´s lawful orders, habitual neglect of duties, absenteeism, insubordination, when employee violates
customs, traditions and laws of Spain and/or terms of this agreement. The employee shall shoulder the repatriation expenses.

b. Termination by the Employee – The Employee may terminate this contract by serving one (1) month in advance written notice to the Employer. If no notice is served, the
Employee shall shoulder all expenses relative to this/her repatriation back to his point of origin. The employee may also terminate this Contract without serving notice to the
Employer for any of the following just causes: serious insult by the Employer or his/her representative and violation of the terms and conditions of the Employment Contract
by the Employer or his/her representative. Employer shall pay the repatriation expenses back to the Philippines.

c. Termination due to Illness – Either party may terminate the Contract on the ground of illness, diseases or injury suffered by the Employee. The Employer shall shoulder the
cost of repatriation, except in cases of self inflicted injuries or illness.

3. Settlement of Disputes:

In case of dispute between the worker and the employer, the matter must be referred by either party to the Philippine Embassy who shall endeavor to settle the issue amicably to the best interest of both parties, as appropriate. If the dispute remains unresolved, the Embassy official shall refer the matter to the appropriate Labor authorities of the host country for adjudication without prejudice to whatever legal action the aggrieved party may take against the other.

2. Visa of the worker – 2 photocopies

3. Passport of the worker – 2 photocopies

4. Business License of the Company with English translation – 2 photocopies

5. DNI/passport of the employer or representative of the company who signed the employment contract – 2 photocopies

6. Letter from the Company, stating how and why the worker was hired – 1 original plus 1 photocopy (requesting POEA for exemption from the ban on direct hiring)

7. Any document attesting to the authority of the signatory of the contract, if signatory is not the owner of the company – 2 photocopies

Payment is 27 Euros
Kindly note that the above will only be required if the company is eligible for the exemption from the ban. We will inform you if and when you can send the documents to our office address.

DIRECT HIRE HSW DIPLOMAT
The employer must provide MWO Madrid with the following:
– POEA Standard Employment Contract for Domestic Workers (originally signed by the Employer + 1 photocopy)
– Contrato de Trabajo – 1 original and 1 photocopy (for verification/registration)
– Employee’s Philippine passport* – 2 photocopies of data page only. *Should be valid for at least 6 months.
– Employee’s NIE – 2 photocopies
– Employer’s DNI and data page of passport– 2 photocopies
– Visa and Salida (2 photocopies)
– A Letter from the Employer stating how and why they have hired you.

VERIFICATION FOR SPAIN- AND ANDORRA BASED EMPLOYERS
As of August 14, 2026
I. Documentary Requirements for Verification

If Employer is a Company/Business Establishment and Hiring Only One Filipino Worker:

– POEA Standard Employment Contract; all pages signed by the Employer – 1 original and 1
photocopy
– Recruitment Agreement between Employer and Philippine Recruitment Agency; all pages
signed by the Employer – 1 original and 1 photocopy
– Manpower Request/Job Order – 1 original and 1 photocopy
– Work visa – 2 photocopies
– Contrato de Trabajo – 2 photocopies
– Work visa and Salida or Resolución – 2 photocopies
– Employee’s Philippine passport** – 2 photocopies of data page only
– Copy of CIF – 2 photocopies
– Copy of DNI or data page of passport of employer or representative who signed the
employment contract – 2 photocopies
– POEA license of Philippine Agency – 2 photocopies
– Passport of Philippine Agency Representative – 2 photocopies of data page

*Should be valid for at least 6 months

II. Verification Fees

For Company/Business Establishment Hiring Only One Filipino Worker:

Verification fee is €45.00 (€9.00 each for Standard Employment Contract, Recruitment Agreement, Manpower Request/Job Order, Resolución/Work Visa, Business License)
For Employer/s Hiring More than 1 worker, verification fee is 27€ per document.
We only accept payment of fees in cash.

In order for you to apply for accreditation with your partner – manning agency in the Philippines DMW you need to submit to us the following documents for verification:

Special Power of Attorney or equivalent document issued by the principal or employer, specifically authorizing the licensed manning agency to recruit for and in its behalf; (1 original and 1 photocopy, all pages must be signed by the employer/representative);
Manning agreement containing among others, the responsibilities of both principal/employer and manning agency with respect to the employment of seafarers, 1 original and 1 photocopy, all pages must be signed by the employer/representative);
Valid business license or registration certificate indicating the line of business of the principal/employer or equivalent document or proof of existence of business validated or certified by the issuing authority in the host country; 2 photocopies
Board resolution or Secretary Certificate authorizing an official of the principal employer to sign the manning agreement and SPA in behalf of the company; 1 original and 1 photocopy;
List of Ships together with the individual certificates of vessel registry (CVR) or an equivalent document. 1 Original Copy of list of ships and photocopies of individual certificates of vessel registry
In case of, of a new building ship, a certificate from the ship builder/owner certificate that
the ship is under construction, and an affidavit of undertaking of the licensed manning agency
to submit the CVR.
Crew Complement and their corresponding wage scale. 1 original and 1 photocopy, and,
Copy of Ship Management Agreement or ISM Code of Declaration, if the company is not the owner of the ship; 2 photocopies
DNI or residence card of the representative of the principal/employer, 2 photocopies;
Copy of passport of the Manning agency representative; and,
Copy of POEA license of the Manning Agency

You may send the soft copies first of all the documents so we can do an initial evaluation. Once everything is ok, we will advise you to send the original documents plus one photocopy of all the documents to our office address below for stamping. We will send you as well the
instruction for the payment of verification fee.

CHECKLIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRING SKILLED WORKERS THROUGH A PHILIPPINE RECRUITMENT AGENCY

CHECKLIST-OF-REQUIREMENTS-FOR-HIRING-SKILLED-WORKERS-THROUGH-A-PHILIPPINE-RECRUITMENT-AGENCY Download