Contract Verification is a procedure used by POLO Toronto’s Labor Attaché to verify that all Filipino workers’ employment rights, benefits, and welfare are protected in the workplace. It will ensure that Filipinos residing in Toronto, Canada are legal and necessary, as well as to prevent complications with Canadian officials, who are notoriously strict on immigration issues. This is beneficial for Filipinos in Toronto, Canada, because many of them work as contract domestic workers.
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Filipinos who are based in Toronto, Canada and need to verify their employment contracts can process this at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office 160 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5.
Visitors to the POLO Toronto, Canada office are advised to wear a facemask and maintain a social distance.
This article will go over the procedures and requirements, for acquiring an Employment Contract Verification in Toronto, Canada.
Contents
- Qualifications
- Requirements
- How to Process Individual Contact Verification in Toronto by Appointment
- How to Process Individual Contact Verification in Toronto by Mail
- Procedural Guidance
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 1. What is Employment Contract Verification?
- 2. Is it possible to get OEC without a verified contract?
- 3. How long does contract verification take?
- 4. Can I skip getting employment contract verification?
- 5. Can I go to the POLO Toronto, Canada office directly to verify my employment contract?
- 6. What is the POLO Toronto, Canada office hour?
- 7. What is POLO Toronto, Canada’s address?
- 8. What is the POLO Toronto, Canada’s hotline number?
- 9. What is the email address of POLO Toronto, Canada?
- 10. How much does it cost to process employment contract verification?
- Summary
- Contact Information
- Google Map Location
Qualifications
- Filipino workers that have changed jobs onsite and are registered with POEA.
- Filipinos working in Toronto, Canada without a POEA record.
- Filipino nationals who have been authorized for an employment visa by the Immigration Department.
- Change of employer and/or name of employer for the first time in Toronto, Canada (for example, from a tourist or from another nation).
- Household service workers (HSWs) (contract verification is every 2-year renewal for Canadian citizen sponsor and every year for foreign national sponsor).
- Others on a fixed-term contract (this needs contract verified every renewal).
Requirements
Contract Verification for Live-in Domestic Worker from the Philippines
A domestic worker is a person employed to perform household tasks at the employer’s home or to clean an apartment complex.
- Certificate of Registration (if you live in Manitoba, from the Manitoba Employment Standards Branch)
- Photocopy of Canadian Employer I.D. (driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID)
- Two (2) copies of Addendum to the Employment Contract signed in blue ink by the employer
- Two (2) copies of the Confirmation de l’offre d’emploi temporaire (if you are from Quebec)
- Two (2) copies of the employer’s signed Employment Contract
- Two (2) copies of the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), formerly known as the Labor Market Opinion (LMO), with Annex and Annex B
- Two (2) copies of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ if you are from Quebec)
- Two (2) copies of the worker’s valid Visa
- Payment of CAD$11.50 for verification fee (Payable to Philippine Overseas Labor Office through Postal Money Order or Bank Draft)
Link for Downloadable Forms: http://polotoronto.dole.gov.ph/accreditation-of-prospective-employers-for-registration-with-poea/
Contract Verification for Skilled / Professional Workers
Skilled/professional workers are those who have attended a college, university, or technical school.
- Certificate of Registration issued by ECON (for employers from Saskatchewan)
- Photocopy of the employer’s Canadian identification (driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued ID)
- Request for Manpower
- From the employer to the third-party representative
- From third-party representative to Philippine partner agency
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (for Provincial Nominee)
- Two (2) copies of the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), formerly the LMO with Annex and Annex B, or the Approval of Application to the Provincial Nominee Program / Certificate of Nomination, whichever is applicable.
- Two (2) copies of a Special Power of Attorney that has been duly notarized
- From the employer to the third-party representative
- From third-party representative to Philippine partner agency
- Two (2) copies of Board Resolution
- Two (2) copies of Certified true copy of commercial registration/business license
- Two (2) copies of Confirmation de l’offre d’emploi temporaire (if you are from Quebec)
- Two (2) copies of Quebec Certification of Acceptance (CAQ if you are from Quebec)
- Two (2) copies of the Master Employment Contract, signed on all pages by the employer, which must include/provide the following minimum provisions:
- Commencement of contract
- Duration of contract
- Free emergency medical and dental services
- Free meals and lodging, or a monetary compensation
- Free transportation to and from the worksite, or monetary compensation
- Guaranteed wage for regular work hours and overtime pay, as applicable, that is not less than the host country’s prescribed minimum wage, or the appropriate minimum standards set forth in a bilateral agreement or international convention, if applicable, or the country’s minimum wage (NCR rate), whichever is higher.
- Just/authorized causes for termination of contract
- Overtime rate for overtime work rendered
- Regular work hours (maximum of 8 hours each day, 6 days per week)
- Repatriation of worker’s remains in case of death
- Settlement of disputes
- Vacation and Sick Leave
- Two (2) copies of the worker’s valid visa
- Payment of CAD$11.50 for verification fee (Payable to Philippine Overseas Labor Office through Postal Money Order or Bank Draft)
- Return envelope (Xpress Post – regular size)
Link for Downloadable Forms: http://polotoronto.dole.gov.ph/accreditation-of-prospective-employers-for-registration-with-poea/
How to Process Individual Contact Verification in Toronto by Appointment
Step 1: Email the POLO Toronto, Canada to book an appointment with your full name, address, and contact number.
Email: polotrt@bellnet.ca / polotoronto.2019@gmail.com
Step 2: Print your booked appointment.
Step 3: Gather all of the necessary requirements.
Step 4: Go to POLO Toronto, Canada on your appointed date located at 2nd Floor 160 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5.
Step 5: The assigned security personnel will check your name to the list of approved appointments for the day and the necessary documents. To avoid long lines, bring the complete set of requirements.
Step 6: Go to the processing window and submit your documents.
Step 7: You will be interviewed for verification by the Consular Officer-in-Charge of Labor/Labor Attaché.
Step 8: After verification, you will pay the verification fee of CAD$ 11.50 to POLO officials, who will then provide an Official Receipt. Cash, bank draft, or money order is the only mode of payment for the verification fee. It must be paid out towards the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the case of the latter.
Step 9: You will receive the verified document along with a PCG stub.
Step 10: To complete the employment contract verification, you must submit the verified contract, along with payment for the authentication fee (CAD$ 22.25) (in cash, bank draft, or money order made payable to Philippine Consulate General) directly to the Cashier of the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) at 160 Eglinton Avenue East, 7th Flr.
Step 11: From the Cashier, PCG, you will receive a receipt for the authentication fee as well as a filled-out stub with the date to claim the processed document.
Step 12: PCG will release the processed document two (2) working days after it is submitted.
How to Process Individual Contact Verification in Toronto by Mail
Step 1: Gather all of the necessary requirements.
Step 2: Send all required documents for employment contract verification, as well as the return envelope and payment for the verification and authentication fees (CAD$ 33.75) to:
Philippine Overseas Labor Office 160 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5
Step 3: Only bank drafts or money orders can be used to pay for authentication and verification fees (NOT CASH OR PERSONAL CHECK).
Step 4: Incomplete documents will be returned, along with the fees, in the return envelope provided. POLO staff will call or email you for more information.
Step 5: The complete documents are then ready for the Consular Officer-in-Charge for Labor/Labor Attaché to verify.
Step 6: The verified documents will be sent to PCG, together with an official receipt for the verification fee and payment for the authentication fee.
Step 7: Two (2) days after receiving the documents for authentication from POLO, PCG will mail you the processed documents and corresponding official receipts.
Procedural Guidance
Here are some helpful tips and reminders to keep in mind during the appointment or appearance date:
- To return the documents for contract verification, all applicants must bring complete documents and a self-addressed Canada Post Xpress post envelope.
- PCG and POLO are not liable for late, lost, misdirected, or overdue mailed employment documents.
- If the employer completed the employment contract verification, the employer must mail or courier the original processed document to the employed worker or to the Philippine Recruitment Agency, which will then present it to POEA as part of the procedures for the issue of exit clearance.
- Bring and submit all required documents in a COMPLETE set to avoid any delays.
- Feel free to call 416-975-8252 / +1 416-975-8252 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm, 3rd Fridays of the Month 9:00am to 7:00pm (Closed on Canadian and Philippines public holidays).
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any further questions regarding “How to Verify Employment Contract in Toronto, Canada”, see the list of frequently asked questions and answers below.
1. What is Employment Contract Verification?
Employment Contract Verification verifies that the OFW has a job and an employer, and that the contract conditions match the POEA and host government’s minimum requirements.
2. Is it possible to get OEC without a verified contract?
A verified employment contract is the most important requirement for the issue of an OEC. Only the POLO or the POEA can provide verification services.
3. How long does contract verification take?
You can get your contract verification after two (2) working days.
4. Can I skip getting employment contract verification?
No, you can’t skip getting your employment contract verification because it’s one of the first steps in getting your OEC.
5. Can I go to the POLO Toronto, Canada office directly to verify my employment contract?
No, you will not be able to go directly to the POLO Toronto, Canada office. The office requires a scheduled appointment. You can schedule an appointment via email. You can also verify your employment contract by sending it through mail.
6. What is the POLO Toronto, Canada office hour?
The POLO office in Toronto, Canada is open from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, 3rd Fridays of the Month 9:00am to 7:00pm (Closed on Canadian and Philippines public holidays).
7. What is POLO Toronto, Canada’s address?
POLO Toronto, Canada address is Philippine Overseas Labor Office 160 Eglinton Ave East, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5
8. What is the POLO Toronto, Canada’s hotline number?
You can reach the POLO Toronto, Canada office at 416-975-8252 / +1 416-975-8252. You may also send a message to the POLO Toronto via messenger.
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/Polotoronto
9. What is the email address of POLO Toronto, Canada?
The email address of POLO Toronto, Canada is polotrt@bellnet.ca and polotoronto.2019@gmail.com.
10. How much does it cost to process employment contract verification?
The processing fee for employment contract verification is CAD$ 11.50.
Summary
Verifying your contract with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is one of the most important steps in ensuring the legality of your stay in Toronto, Canada. Since authorities are on high alert for illegal immigrants, be sure your contract is verified.
You’ll be able to take advantage of all of POLO’s benefits and services, as well as those offered by the Philippine Consulate General’s (PCG) Toronto-based partner agencies.
You must carefully follow the steps and complete your requirements to avoid contract verification delays.
Contact Information
POLO OWWA Toronto
Address: 160 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M4P 3B5
Telephone Number/s: Contact No. (416) 975-8252, OFW Hotline No. : (647) 992-7656
Website: http://polotoronto.dole.gov.ph/, https://www.philcongen-toronto.com/
Email: OWWA: toronto@owwa.gov.ph, POLO: 2019@gmail.com
Facebook Pages: https://www.facebook.com/Polotoronto/
Google Map Location
Below is the map guide location of the POLO-OWWA office in Toronto for your reference: