DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — For hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers in Dubai, relief is finally here.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has signed an agreement with solutions provider DataFlow Group to launch a digital platform that allows OFWs to submit, pay for, and download verified employment contracts online — no long trips, no endless queues.
For Dubai’s estimated 500,000 OFWs, this change means one thing: fewer early mornings spent traveling to the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) on the outskirts of the city, and more time for work, rest, and family.
“Pormal na nating ginawang ganap ang online contract verification,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, announcing the signing of the deal. With the new system in place, OFWs — especially those with new employers — will no longer need to personally visit the MWO just to have their contracts verified.
The new platform, called the Online Employment Contract Verification System (OECVS), was quietly tested for six months in Dubai before its official launch this month. The pilot proved to be a success.
Government estimates show the system has already processed more than 30,000 contracts, saving OFWs nearly AED 2 million and an estimated 137,500 hours that would have been spent lining up and traveling.
Under the old manual system, workers paid AED 40 per contract verification. With OECVS, the process is faster — and cheaper — with a convenience fee of AED 21.50, according to Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista, head of the Dubai and Northern Emirates MWO.
And this is only the beginning.
Bautista shared that the system will soon be rolled out to Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and other Middle East destinations, with global expansion planned in phases throughout the year.
The goal is clear: streamline contract verification, cut processing time, remove manual steps, and strengthen data privacy for OFWs worldwide.
OECVS is part of the DMW’s broader digital push, which includes the OFW Pass and Kumusta Kabayan App — tools designed to give workers a secure digital identity, real-time support, and easier access to government services.
Contract verification remains a crucial requirement, especially for OFWs returning to the Philippines for vacation. The process checks employment details, including salary, before an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is issued — a document that allows workers to return to their jobs abroad and exempts them from travel tax and terminal fees.
With the shift to digital, a once stressful process becomes a few clicks away.
For OFWs in Dubai, this isn’t just a system upgrade — it’s time, money, and peace of mind finally given back.
