Category: OFW Interest

One of the reasons why you decided to work overseas is to give your family a better life. By better life, this includes having a place you can call not just your home but also your own. Apparently, buying your dream house is not as easy as it seems. You have to consider the location, neighborhood, and proximity to hospital, school, and malls among others.

More importantly, you need to consider the cost because owning a house is not going to be easy on your pocket.

Buying a house definitely entails cost, but this doesn’t mean you have grab every sideline you can find just to pay for it. Believe it or not, there are many ways you can still save without compromising your dream home.

1) Be realistic with your choice of home. 

There’s nothing wrong with aiming for that three-bedroom home with two-car garage and a backyard located inside a gated subdivision. While it is an epitome of your dream house, your budget cannot afford it even if you work three jobs.

Therefore, be realistic with your choices. Keep in mind that aside from buying the house, you need to spend few more thousands for renovation in order to suit your needs. Stick to a budget plan and look for options according to that plan.

2) Canvassing is key. 

There are tons of properties offered by a lot of developers in the market. Now that you established a budget, explore your options by looking into what a particular developer can offer based on that budget. Compare and contrast the facilities and amenities to help you decide which one will give you more value for money. Some developers offer similar home characteristics but sell it at different prices – and surely you want to go with a home that helps you save more.

This leads you to this next tip.

3) Don’t rush into buying a new home. 

We understand that you want your family to move out so they can finally settle in the new house. Sadly, that’s not how it works, especially if you want to be able to save. This is why it is important to explore your options first before you say yes to a specific home. Once you say yes, you can never go back and leave the original one behind.

4) Consider foreclosed properties. 

A house developed by DMCI or Ayala might be the perfect one, but can your pocket afford it? If you want to be able to save more, try looking at listings for foreclosed properties. Lenders sell it at more affordable prices with more flexible monthly installments because they simply want to dispose the property and turn it into cash.

Is this safe? Well, this leads us to the next tip.

5) Inspect the house. 

Home inspection is a must when buying a property. You need to personally see the condition of your “future home” and make an estimate on how much money you still need for the repairs and renovation. You can also haggle the price based on this estimate. You also need to personally see the property to give you a “feel” of the surroundings of your possible future home.

Trust your gut on this because if you feel that the house doesn’t feel right, then move on to the next option.

6) Establish your credit standing. 

Remember this: when dealing with lenders, your credit score is among the biggest considerations. If you plan to finance your future home, then make sure that you are in good credit standing. This way, you can negotiate with the rates, thereby helping you save few hundreds or thousands.

READ: 6 Tips to Boost Credit Standing

Buying a home is among the biggest purchases you will make in your life – and you want to make it worth it. Keep these things in mind because these will surely help you when you’re ready to go house hunting.

Sometime in November 2017, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA received several complaints from job applicants about a job they applied to online. It turns out that they applied for an overseas work online, particularly through Facebook, which was posted by a Turkish national and his Filipina wife.

According to the complainants, they were required to send USD 120 to 320 through Western Union in exchange for a job in several hotels. The said amount will be used for the processing of work permit and visa. After sending the money, the complainants did not receive a positive feedback on the supposed job overseas.

This is just one of the many stories that show how Filipinos can be “overwhelmed” with a promised job overseas. In fact, there are many aspiring OFWs who become victims for this type of scheme.

Here comes the dangerous part: scammers lure their victims online, specifically through Facebook.

This is how it works:

• They post ads about job vacancies abroad and include a POEA license in the post to make it look legitimate. Some illegal recruiters will indicate the number of slots left to make the “job” look more in demand.
• Once you apply by submitting your application and other documents, the “recruiter” will require you to pay a certain amount to “cover the expenses associated with work permit and visa processing.” You will be given a bank account, Western Union, or Paypal address where you can make payment.
• After you deposited the said amount, the recruiter will give you updates on the status of your job application until you will never hear from him/her again.

“The job ad looks legitimate,” you might say. Unfortunately, scammers will do whatever it takes just to make someone fall in their trap. This is why you need to watch out for the following red flags or warning signs:

• Recruitment websites and Facebook accounts with “POEA” in it such as POEA Jobs in Dubai (FB), jobspoea.com, and poeajobsabroad.org. Scammers use “POEA” in their domain name to make them look more legitimate. Keep in mind that there is only ONE POEA and the official website is http://www.poea.gov.ph
• You are being recruited by a foreign placement agency. This is illegal because both the recruiter and employer have no license to recruit Filipino workers.
• Unrealistic promises and work conditions like higher salary, free food and transportation throughout the duration of the contract, non-payment of processing and placement fees, and other too good to be true conditions. Some recruiters also promise free accommodation and food plus reimbursement of travel expenses for provincial applicants.
• You are requested to make upfront payment through a remittance company. This payment will cover the processing of work visa and other travel documents. Consequently, the recruiter asks you to pay other fees to attend “mandatory” seminars and other documentation-related expenses.
• You are advised to wait for a “very important” email that contains “very important information.”
• There was never a personal encounter and the recruiter insists that the transaction only happens online for “your own personal convenience.”

How can you avoid this?

• Check the recruitment agency if it is registered and licensed by the POEA. Use the license number the agency disclosed and check the status here.
• Verify the job with POEA through its Verification System.
• Do not pay any fees unless you sign an Employment Contract. Consequently, the fees paid must have a corresponding BIR-issued receipt.
• Check the address of the recruitment agency. Simply type the address on Google Maps page to verify if a certain establishment does exist.

Still, this doesn’t mean that recruitment agencies who post job vacancies online are not legitimate. There are those who use social media as a platform to inform the people about job openings in certain countries yet the entire application process happens on a personal, face-to-face level.

The point is be more careful and vigilant. Don’t get too excited with too good to be true promises and work conditions. Remember the red flags and tips on how to avoid being scammed and eventually, you will be able to start your journey overseas.

Going overseas to work for bigger pay is one of the many things Filipinos consider. Can you imagine not just earning in dollars but also earning twice or thrice more than your salary here? It’s tempting, don’t you think?

Apparently, working abroad is not easy. Aside from the gruesome application process, applying for work overseas means there is a price to pay as well – and it’s not a cheap one. This could be the reason why many Filipinos sell whatever they could sell just to pay for these fees.

This leads you to the next question: how much does it cost to apply for work abroad?

PLACEMENT FEE

POEA-licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to charge placement fee, which is equivalent to one-month worth of your salary abroad. This is necessary because said amount is used by recruitment agencies to sustain their businesses. Take note that the basis of computation should be on the salary stated in the POEA-approved employment contract.

Can the recruitment agency require you to pay the placement fee upon application? The answer is no. 

In fact, the agency could only deduct the fees once you signed the employment contract. In return, the agency will give you BIR-registered receipt, which shows the total amount paid. If they insist on you paying the said fee, then you need to think twice about your chosen recruitment agency because there is a possibility that you will be scammed.

Can you pay only half of the placement fee first? That would depend on your arrangement with the recruitment agency. 

You can choose to pay half of the fee upon signing of contract and the other half once you have the plane ticket and other travel documents. This could be a good arrangement if you cannot raise the entire amount upon signing of contract.

READ: Practical Ways to Raise Money for Placement Fee

Nonetheless, not all overseas workers are obliged to pay placement fee. Seafarers, household service workers, and caregivers are exempted. There are also countries that ban collection of placement fee, which includes:

• United Kingdom
• USA (under H2B visa)
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Canada
• New Zealand

PROCESSING FEE

The good news is you won’t shoulder all expenses. There are fees that must be shouldered by employer, which includes:

• Working visa
• Roundtrip airfare
• Work and residence permit
• OWWA membership fee amounting to USD 25
• POEA processing fee of P200
• Insurance coverage
• Transportation to the jobsite
• Additional tests or assessment, especially when the job so requires

DOCUMENTATION FEES

You will need to submit certain documents in order to process your job application. This would also mean shelling money to produce these documents.

Here are the requirements you need to submit:

• Passport – P950.00 for regular and P1,200.00 for express
• NBI Clearance – P150.00
• Police and Barangay Clearance – amount depending on your location
• PSA-authenticated birth certificate – P330.00
• Philhealth contribution – P2,400.00
• PAG-IBIG contribution – P100.00
• Medical Exam – amount varies per clinic

You might find these fees overwhelming and too much for you wallet to handle. Unfortunately, not all fees can be waived completely, so it is best to save up for these fees as early as possible.

Did you know that there are 2.2 million Household Service Workers (HSW) working overseas? Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and Qatar are the top destinations for HSW because of both the pay and high in demand. Unfortunately, not all deployed HSWs were able to finish their contract because their employers decided to terminate them for various reasons; one of which is that the HSW is not prepared to work as one.

You might think that being a HSW is as simple as doing the chores. In fact, it doesn’t end there. You will be in a different country with different rules, laws, and way of life. These are the factors you need to consider as well to ensure that you can get the job done.

The good news is there is a training center that could help you prepare for the job.

Say Hello to Fair Training Center (FTC)

FTC is under the management of Fair Employment Agency. The agency noticed that despite its rigorous application process, four out of 10 first-time OFWs were terminated because they weren’t ready to migrate and work.

This is how FTC started in November 2016. It is an accredited training and assessment center that assists pre-departure HSWs by teaching the basics of living and working abroad, particularly in Hong Kong, through simulation – and more.

The curriculum is divided into three competencies: Basic, Common, and Core.

The program aims to teach and familiarize:

• Your rights as a worker
• Proper use of household appliances and equipment like washing machine and food processor
• Basic cooking skills and recipes, including shopping for local ingredients in the market
• Proper housekeeping skills
• First aid and accident prevention and management
• How to use public transportation
• Filling up forms in the immigration
• Understand service contracts
• How to respond to scenarios like being accused of stealing, as well as tips on how to prevent yourself from being placed in an unfortunate situation
• Tips on how to be professionals, including the way you talk, think, look, dress, and act
• Proper ways to communicate with employers

In other words, FTC helps HSWs on how to be dignified professionals because after all, you are a worker and not just someone who gets paid to do the cleaning.

Aside from the basic and physical preparations, Fair Training Center also helps prepare workers emotionally and financially. You will be taught tips on how to communicate and maintain a healthy relationship with your family in the Philippines with the help of scheduling. Living in a different country is a new experience for you and FTC will help you adapt to the new living environment.

Another important thing you need to prepare for before you leave is how to handle finances at home. FTC acts as a guide to help you and your family define specific financial goals, which will serve as your motivation as you work overseas. Financial literacy is also crucial – and FTC will give you an idea about various financial concepts and how to make the most out of your earnings. This way, you are sure that all your hard work will be rewarded.

Here’s another best part: your trainers were former OFWs who have enough experiences that are not known to many.

How much does this training cost? 

The usual cost is P16,500.00, which covers everything you need to know about working as HSW in Hong Kong plus materials. As of this writing, FTC’s training fee is P8,000.00, so don’t miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the necessary skills as you start this journey.

Back in the day, you have to walk along the streets of Manila to check every recruitment agency’s job openings and then apply. Then, you have to wait for the agency’s call on whether or not you passed the initial screening and ready to take the succeeding steps.

Thanks to Internet, you can look for a job overseas without leaving the comfort of your home. Be careful. Not all websites that post job openings abroad are legitimate. Protect yourself from being scammed by sticking to these legitimate websites that will help jumpstart your life overseas:

POEA Website

Yes, the government does post job openings through the POEA website, although it’s not as updated as the other job websites. Job postings are only limited to several countries, but still, it’s worth the try. After all, you are sure that these job postings are legitimate since it’s the government who posted it. The good thing about applying at the job vacancies posted is that jobs are urgent; hence application process if faster.

You can check this link to see the latest job openings you can apply to. Don’t forget to register online.

OFWguru.com 

The website only started in 2015, but over the years, it has been a go-to platform for job-seekers because the site posts job hirings from POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. When you sign up, you can also submit your resume online, thereby making it accessible to both employers and recruitment agencies to see. Doing so will also help you find the right jobs since OFWguru matches you with the job hunters according to the skills and experiences you indicated in your resume.

This website is also worth checking because aside from the job openings, OFWguru also has a “Blog” section that shares various tips and tricks that are helpful for OFWs. This includes money or finance tips and tips on how to excel overseas.

SeamanJobsite.com 

Do you want to be a seafarer? Skip that trip in Manila to knock at every door and ask for any job opening. You can save yourself from the scorching heat and money for commute by simply checking SeamanJobsite.com, an online portal dedicated to aspiring seafarers. It has a database of thousands of jobs from top maritime companies and licensed manning agencies. Searching for a job is also easy since the jobs are assorted accordingly.

Unlike OFWguru, there is no need to upload a resume. Simply fill out the online application since this will already serve as your resume. Similar to OFWguru, you can also find a lot of informative articles that could help you adjust in your new venture, career tips, and of course, money posts.

WorkAbroad.ph

This is a sister site of SeamanJobsite, but this time, it posts job openings for land-based workers. It also has more than 20,000 job listings from POEA-licensed recruitment agencies, thereby making it easier for you to look for a job with just a few clicks.

You can also sort the job listings according to categories like Specializations. Jobs, Countries, and POEA agencies among others. Simply upload your resume to make it easier for job hunters to find you. Don’t forget to download the mobile app so you can check the job listings wherever you are.

JobStreet.com

Yes, JobStreet is not just for local employment. In fact, it also has an Overseas Jobs page where you can see more than 10,000 POEA-approved job offerings in the field of Engineering, construction, finance, hotel and restaurant, manufacturing, and healthcare among many others.

Don’t worry. If you applied through JobStreet before, navigating its Overseas Jobs page will be easier for you.

So, are you ready to start looking for a job overseas? Good luck!

There are hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who leave the country every year for greener pastures. Regardless of the country destination, Filipino migrant workers have a common battlecry and that is to provide a better future for the family. If you happen to be one of the many Filipinos who long to make this happen through overseas work, you will need an entity that will make this dream realize.

These are the recruitment agencies.

Recruitment agencies post a job offer overseas, process applications, help prepare necessary requirements for documentation, and assist you as you leave the country.

Here’s the thing: not all recruitment agencies are legitimate. There will always be people who will take advantage of this “need” by promising a job abroad, only to scam you or get your money. In 2016 alone, there are more than 1,000 illegal recruitment cases filed – and this number does not include those cases that were dropped or not filed with the proper agency. This means the agency conducted any of the following illegal activities:

• Giving the worker a Tourist Visa when the intention is to work overseas.
• Backdoor exit or going out of the country using airports or seaports in the southern part of the Philippines.
• Escort services wherein you will be “escorted” at the country’s airports and seaports.
• Camouflaged representation wherein you will be asked to join a seminar or sporting event overseas so you can get work from there.
• Recruitment correspondences, including submission of requirements or payment of placement is ONLY through email or mail.
• Au pair, which is an inter-cultural program wherein a host family will sponsor someone to study a culture or language with monthly allowance. In exchange, you will be given a place to stay.
• Trainee Scheme wherein you will leave for a training program overseas but a job is already waiting for you when you get there.

What can you do to avoid being a victim of illegal recruitment? Here’s what:

• Only apply through POEA-licensed recruitment agencies. POEA regularly updates the list of registered recruitment agencies and inform the people about agencies who were doing illegal recruitment activities. You can check the POEA website to see if the agency you are eyeing for is legitimate.
• Deal with the authorized representative/s of the licensed recruitment agencies. Consequently, transactions must be done in the address indicated in the agency’s POEA license.
• Check if the job offer is approved by the POEA. POEA also list some available jobs in their website, although this is not updated in real-time.
• Take note of the placement fee. This should be equivalent to one-month salary and will only be paid UPON signing of employment contract. Don’t forget to ask for a receipt that corresponds to the amount you paid.

Here are also some red flags you need to watch out for that will tell you if a recruitment agency is a scam:

• Placement fee is more than the equivalent of one month salary.
• Payment of placement fee is required even if you are not yet accepted for the job you applied for or there is no employment contract yet.
• Job offers that require immediate payment to secure your application, whether through bank deposit, PO box, or personal delivery of payment.
• Tourist visa instead of a working visa.
• Recruitment agency with provincial address yet there is no branch or partner agency in the said province.

Don’t be a victim by falling for these illegal practices. You and your family deserve a better life and future, and you can start having that by finding the right recruitment agency. Be careful and always check for legitimacy before you commit.

Whoever said that being an OFW is easy is definitely not an OFW. You carry the burden and responsibility of providing and ensuring a better life and future for your family. At the same time, there is pressure to sustain the lifestyle you provided to your family.

Apparently, this is just one of the MANY problems you will encounter as you go through this rollercoaster ride. Below are other “problems” most OFWs go through and surely, you can relate to all of them:

1. Homesickness

Being away from your family is no joke. During the first few months, you might end up crying and wanting to go back home because you miss them so much,

How to solve it: Remember why you are working overseas in the first place. Use it as your motivation to keep fighting instead of giving up. The good thing about working overseas today is that there are various tools you can use to communicate with your family back home. Maximize that especially during your downtime.

This leads you to another issue.

2. Long distance relationship

You’ve seen it in TV shows and movies. It’s either the OFW or the spouse left back home (or both!) has another partner. You both blame it on the distance because you cannot be with your partner anytime of the day – and this could create an issue in the relationship. Homesickness could lead to infidelity as well, regardless of how hard you fight against it.

How to solve it: A strong foundation-slash-marriage helps a lot to ensure that no infidelity will take place. Also, set aside a strict and specific time of the day to talk to your spouse. Talk about how both of your days went, any problems encountered, and just reconnect with each other. Maximize video messaging tools and constantly remind each other of why you are doing these sacrifices.

3. Not enough savings

“Madaming gastos sa ‘Pinas eh,” said most OFWs. Because of the never-ending expenses, you are unable to set aside money every month for savings. You have personal expenses as well and living in a foreign soil means higher cost of living too.

How to solve it: Discipline plays a crucial role, so make sure you pressure yourself to save. You’ll never know what could happen the next day and you have to be prepared for it. Also, teach your family to save as well. Saving is not solely your responsibility, so make sure everyone does their part.

4. Too much unpaid loans

There is nothing wrong with borrowing money. What makes it wrong is when you use the money you borrowed for the wrong reasons like buying a new gadget or for shopping. Worse, these borrowed money accumulate and the next thing you know, a big chunk of your income is used to pay for these loans.

How to solve it: First, you need to know how much you owe, so list all of your loans, regardless of the amount. Indicate the due date and interest rate for each loan. From there, you can check which loans should be paid first, preferably the one with higher interest rate OR early due date. At this point, forget about savings to pay for the loans. This will make it easier for you to save if you don’t have to worry about debts. Once you paid off a big chunk of your loan, then you can go back to saving again.

5. Unforeseen circumstances

This includes political crisis in the country where you’re working, sudden mass lay-offs, disasters such as typhoon or earthquake, or war. These circumstances are beyond your control but could greatly affect your employment overseas.

How to solve it: There’s no better way of solving this than to be prepared for it. Set up an emergency fund the moment you step your foot on foreign soil and try to save as much as you can while you still can. Consider getting a sidejob or encourage your family back home to put up a small business to help augment financial needs. Preparation is key and in instances where you need to go home immediately, all of your preparations will be worth it.

Which one have you experienced so far?

Let’s face it: your work overseas is not forever. At some point, you have to go back to the Philippines because your contract expired or due to some other unfortunate circumstances. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure: you need to be prepared for it. 

The question is how.

One of the most obvious reasons is to put up your own business, even if it’s still a small one – for now. The challenge now is how to do it to make sure that it will be sustainable.

Here’s how to start your own small business:

Step 1: Establish your business goal. 

It’s not enough that you want to put up your own business. Every business starts with a goal. This will serve as your motivation and keep you guided on how you will manage and sustain your business as the months and years go by.

At this point, you should also know what kind of product or service you want to offer. This should address a specific concern in the market to be able to differentiate you from the rest of the entrepreneurs. Consequently, identify your suppliers and establish a good relationship with them as early as now since they will help you in making your business goal happen.

Step 2: Prepare your funds. 

This is another challenge. Even if you have a brilliant idea that no one else thought of, the question now is how do you turn this brilliant idea into something more tangible.

Therefore, you will need funds or capital. You can take a risk and use your savings to put put up your own business OR borrow money from lenders, whether traditional banks or private lending companies like Balikbayad. You can also look for a partner to help you finance your business, although you have to be careful in choosing this one.

Step 3: Make noise in social media. 

At this point, you established your business goals, identified your product or service, tapped a specific market, made friends with suppliers, and came up with funds to finance your business. The next step is to make your business known to the public, particularly in social media. This is the most convenient way to make you known because it is free and you will be able to tap your target demographic easily.

Tip: Choose one social media account and stick to it. Having too many accounts is not advisable especially if you are just starting your business. 

If you prefer the traditional way of doing business, then find a location where you can make it happen. High foot traffic and commercial centers are your best options. Since you cater to a certain market, you can consider putting up your business near them.

Step 4: Develop your marketing strategy. 

How do you plan to market your business? What strategies will you use to promote what you are offering to the public? What will you do to sustain your business? These are only some of the questions you need to answer to help you develop your marketing strategy.

READ: How to Write a Business Plan

Step 5: Review your business goals.

 

 

Here in Balikbayad, we believe in the potential and skill of every OFW. That is why we opened our doors to the OFW community to help in making sure that your dream to have a better and secured future. If you need extra funds for your business, Balikbayad is here to help. Send your online loan application now for pre-approval and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Raise your hand if you want to save more money.

Let’s face it: no matter how much you try, you always end up sending a big chunk of your money back home instead of setting some aside for savings. Your family needs it more than you do. Besides, you can always save the following month, which you weren’t able to do as well because of the never-ending expenses in the Philippines.

What can you do to save extra money and leave some for yourself? These ideas might sound crazy but trust us, this works:

1. Walk (as much as you can). 

Whether it’s on your way to work or home, going to the market or grocery, visiting a friend, or going to the Church every Sunday, consider walking especially if the distance is not too far. Even if you take the bus or train, it would still entail costs; hence additional expense for you. Therefore, walk as much as you can.

The best part: you get to exercise as well.

2. Share your living space. 

Some Filipino migrant workers has designated living quarters in the company they are working with. If none is provided, then you have to look for an apartment that you can rent.

Apparently, housing expenses can be expensive. To be able to save on rent, consider sharing a space with fellow Filipinos to divide the expenses. You can also consider sharing other expenses at home like electricity, water, or Internet connection. Come up with an arrangement that is agreeable to everyone. This way, you get to live harmoniously.

3. Cook at home.

Eating out can be tempting, especially if you are tired from work and too lazy to cook. As enticing as it sounds, eating out can take a toll in your budget.

What you can do is to start a Menu Plan for the entire week, buy fresh food from the grocery or market, and then cook at home. Consider cooking in big batches and store them in the freezer so you don’t have to think about what to eat when you get home. You can also have the food for your baon at work the following day. When you do this, you can not only save more but also be sure of what you eat.

4. Take advantage of free apps for communication. 

Gone are the days when OFWs utilize overseas call to talk to their loved ones. Today, you can take advantage of the Internet by downloading apps like Viber or WeChat that allows you to talk to your family in the Philippines for FREE. Even Facebook messenger offers video call, which any of the family can readily answer because of the popularity of this social media tool.

Now that’s an affordable way to connect to your family even if you’re miles away.

5. Use cash for your purchases. 

Getting a credit card can be exciting and tempting at the same time. If you happen to have one, keep it and don’t use it. There is always a tendency to treat it as an extension of your money, which is not a good mindset.

When paying for purchases, make it habit to use cash. You are saved from paying interest or be charged with penalty fee in case of delay in the payment. Plus, you don’t need that plastic card in your life.

Are you ready to boost your savings?