POEA stands for Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. It is the main government agency responsible for overseeing and checking recruitment agencies in the Philippines, and at the same time giving chances and opportunities for Filipinos to work overseas.

It was set up in 1982 through Executive Order 797 for the purpose of developing and promoting the overseas employment program and protecting the rights of Filipino migrant workers. It has been revamped in 1987 through Executive Order 247 for the regulation of private sector participating in the hiring and overseas placement, to manage the skills registry, and to make sure that the OFWs has the best terms of employment. Further amendments on the agency’s purpose and role were then imposed under RA 8042 (1995) and RA 9422 (2007) to give better help and protection to the OFWs.

POEA’s core functions include industry regulation, employment facilitation, workers’ protection, general administration and support services.

POEA’s main office is located at Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City. It also has three Regional Centers, which are located at La Union for Luzon, Cebu for the Visayas region and Davao for the Mindanao area. They have also placed regional extension units and satellite office around the country.

To give you more information about POEA, its work, purpose and locations of its offices, or want to report illegal recruiters, please click through their website and official Facebook page below. Links for their mobile app (both Android and Apple products) are also provided. To contact their offices overseas, go to your respective countries’ Philippine Embassy location and/or website.

POEA Website:
http://www.poea.gov.ph/
POEA Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/mypoea
POEA Mobile App (Android):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ph.workabroad.POEA&hl=en_GB
POEA Mobile App (Apple):
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/poea-mobile/id837924885?mt=8