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Protection for labour migrants - process, costs and benefits

What is Protection?

Every intending emigrant is legally bound to get his Foreign Service Agreement (FSA) protected from the concerned Protectorate of Emigrants (POE) office.

Benefits of Protection

  1. Complete legal protection is provided.
  2. Entitled to full assistance from the Pakistan mission in the country of employment.
  3. Legal assistance can be sought from Community Welfare Attaché, based at the Pakistan Embassy in the country of employment, in case the employer violates the FSA.
  4. Problems faced by family can be mitigated to an extent.

BEOE introduced a life insurance scheme in collaboration with State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan for the intending emigrants in May 1982. Each emigrant is required to deposit an amount of Rs. 2,500/- as insurance premium to cover life risk for a sum of Rs. 1,000,000/-. Insurance coverage is valid for 5 years. 

The government has provided re-insurance facility since July 2001 for all those workers who wish to get the insurance policy renewed. This scheme has also been extended to those Pakistanis who proceeded abroad without registration with Protector of Emigrants but have now been allowed registration with respective Embassies.

After payment of welfare fund, he becomes the member of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. Under the membership, he is entitled to the following benefits:

  1. Educational facilities for his children.
  2. School/college admission facilities are provided.
  3. Staff posted at Overseas Pakistanis Foundation’s counters at International Airports helps in providing legal and other necessary guidance and information.
  4. Migrant worker is entitled the benefits of facilities from of residential accommodation schemes arranged by Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
  5. Investment can be made in the industrial sector, through Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
  6. Overseas Pakistanis Foundation also gives financial help in case of accident/mishap.

Protectorate of Emigrants

Under the Rule-4 of Emigration Rules, 1979, the Protectorates of Emigrants performs the following functions: -

  • Process all demands in private sector of Overseas Employment Promoters according to the procedure laid down by the Director General.
  • Ensure that Emigrants fully understand the terms and conditions of employment abroad as given in the foreign service agreement
  • Inspect the conveyances caring the departing and returning emigrants
  • Inquire into the treatment received by returning emigrants during the period of their residence abroad, and return journey, and report findings of such inquiry to the Director General
  • Aid and advise emigrants, when departing from, or returning to, Pakistan
  • Submit reports to the Director General on the performance of the Overseas Employment Promoters
  • Inspect the offices of the Overseas Employment Promoters and the places at which they select person for emigration
  • Supervise the work and behavior of the Overseas Employment Promoters in relation to general public and render them such advice as the circumstances may require
  • Obtain reports from the Overseas Employment Promoters on such forms as may be specified the Director General

It is mandatory for every Pakistani (with valid work visa) to get the Passport stamped from the Protectorate of Emigrants in order to leave Pakistan.

It is extremely important to understand that, without a protected passport, the Pakistani airport personnel will not allow one to take an international flight.

The original purpose of this protection is to get proper data of the emigrant, cover the emigrant through life insurance, and to eliminate illegal international travel.

Documents required for Protectorate’s stamp:

  • Valid passport
  • Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)
  • Visa - Work Permit: An original visa or its photocopy is required.
  • Employment Offer/Contract: The original/scanned copy of Employment Offer/Contract should also be attached along with the Application.
  • CNIC for next of kin
  • Medical Report (as directed by Protectorate of Emigrants).
  • Bank Challan Receipts.
  • Photographs
  • Undertaking form: This is the ensure that the applicant would not become illegal in the country and if it happens, the applicants will be solely responsible for the consequences.
  • An Information form: This is completely an information page asking about current address, the employer address etc.

How to get Emigrant's Protection

  • There are two primary ways of registration for emigrant's protection: (i) Direct Registration (ii) Registration through Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP)
  • The following diagram shows the general process flow of emigrant's protection.

Process Flow of Direct Registration

First-Step

Intending Emigrant submits following documents for registration to the concerned section for processing / verification in case of Direct Employment.

  1. Online Registration Request for Direct Emigrants
  2. Visa (as per procedure in the host country)
  3. Valid Passport
  4. Valid Computerized national Identity Card (photocopy is also acceptable)
  5. Employment contract or agreement duly signed by the employer or an undertaking as approved by the Director General, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment
  6. Receipt of Registration Fee
  7. Receipt of Welfare Fund
  8. Emigration Promotion Fee
  9. Certificate of insurance from State Life Insurance Corporation (original and a duplicate copy)
  10. Copy of NOC in case of ex-service men/government servants! nurses (from relevant federal! provincial health authorities)
  11. Police Character Verification Certificate in respect of the intending emigrant from concerned DPO Political Agent (for specified countries only)
  12. Medical Fitness Report (from approved medical centers of specified countries). In case of Qatar, medical fitness report from any government! registered private hospital

Note: Following documents are not required for registration against any trade: -
-> Affidavits from spouse/ parents, in case of female workers
-> driving license in case of drivers
Protectorates of Emigrants are also advised to display the list of necessary documents required for registration on prominent places of the office for the facilitation of the intending emigrants. Furthermore, display the fee structure in bold shape on the entrance as well as in the office premises for information of general public.

Second-Step

After documents verification the Intending Emigrant is guided to the Briefing Hall for orientation/ briefing. At the same time: the record is registered, a registration number is alloted, passport is stamped and complete case is forwarded to the Protector of Emigrant.

Third-Step

Protector of Emigrant officer signs (embossed) on passport and forwards the passport for delivery.

Fourth-Step

O&B officer briefs the intending emigrant with all the necessary aspects regarding health, legal rights etc. and guides him to get his passport and documents.

Process Flow of Registration through Overseas Employment Promoters (OEP)

First-Step

The intending emigrant submits the following documents for registration to the concerned section for processing / verification in case of Employment through O.E.P.

  1. Permission no
  2. Passports
  3. CNIC
  4. Insurance certificate
  5. Welfare fund slip
  6. Protector fees slip
  7. Bank Certificate / Service Charges (OEP Refundable)
  8. Registration fees slip
  9. Adhesive Stamp Fee
  10. FSA (Foreign Service Agreement)

Second-Step

After documents verification, the Intending Emigrant is guided to the Briefing Hall for orientation / briefing. At the same time: the record is registered, registration number is allotted, passport is stamped and complete case is forwarded to the Protector of Emigrant.

Third-Step

Protector of Emigrant officer signs (embossed) on passport and forwards the passport for delivery.

Fourth-Step

O&B officer briefs all necessary aspects regarding health, legal-rights etc. and guides him to get his passport and documents.

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