The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Singapore, formerly POLO, is the Department of Migrant Workers' office for OFWs, and it sits inside the Philippine Embassy at 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395 (source). You book every MWO transaction online at go.mwosingapore.online, and you pay in cash at the counter (source) [source: heyzine.com, 2026 OFW Handbook p.64].
MWO Singapore at a glance
Item
Details
Address
20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395 (inside the Philippine Embassy) (source)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Embassy business hours; the MWO site does not post separate hours) (source)
Late Fridays
8:30 AM to 8:30 PM on 30 October, 27 November and 18 December 2026 (source)
Cash only; no ATM near the Embassy [source: heyzine.com, p.64]
The Embassy closes on both Philippine and Singapore holidays. Check the closure list before you book on our Philippine Embassy guide, which also covers MRT and bus routes to Nassim Road.
What MWO handles vs what the Consular section handles
MWO and the Consular Section share a building but run separate booking systems, so kababayans often book the wrong window.
Complete the booking form. The portal does not publish its form fields ahead of time, so follow the on-screen steps and keep the confirmation email.
Arrive with your documents and exact cash.
Book before you go. The Embassy's walk-in lane covers passport and notarial services only, so it does not help with labor transactions [source: heyzine.com, p.35].
Contract verification: who needs it, documents, SGD 15, what you get
Contract verification registers or updates your overseas job with the DMW so you can get an OEC. MWO also checks that your contract meets Singapore and Philippine rules [source: heyzine.com, p.63].
moved jobsite from another country, for example Malaysia to Singapore
have no POEA or DMW record, including if you entered on a tourist or student pass and now hold a work pass [source: heyzine.com, p.65]
You do not need it if your verified contract expired and you renewed with the same employer. Bring the old verified contract and the new one when you fly home [source: heyzine.com, p.65]. A company name change with the same UEN does not need verification either; bring the ACRA name change certificate [source: heyzine.com, p.64].
One of: original certificate of employment, recent payslip, company ID, or signed compliance letter
Add a transfer letter if another company acquired your employer, or a promotion letter if your position changed. Contract templates sit in the MWO help centre (source).
You leave with a verified contract and an official receipt. If DMW already has your records, MWO emails your OEC, valid for 60 days. Without prior records, you get your OEC from a DMW office in the Philippines (source). MWO does not publish a counter processing time.
OEC, OFW Pass and Balik-Manggagawa exemption: which one you need before flying home
The OEC is your exit clearance from the Philippines. You show it when you leave the Philippines, not when you arrive (source).
Your situation
What to do
Verified contract, same employer, still valid
Download the OFW Pass on the eGovPH app (valid 90 days), or log in to e-registration and apply for OEC exemption (source)
Verified contract expired, same employer
Update your e-registration, attach the new contract to the expired verified one, then request OEC exemption. No re-verification (source)
New employer, new position, new jobsite, or no record
Book contract verification on go.mwosingapore.online (source)
An OEC from e-registration lasts 60 days, so generate it close to your flight back to Singapore. The OEC also exempts you from travel tax and the airport terminal fee [source: heyzine.com, p.61 to 62]. E-registration and the OEC cost nothing [source: heyzine.com, p.64]. For OFW Pass problems, email ofwpass@dmw.gov.ph [source: heyzine.com, p.61].
OWWA membership costs SGD 36 (USD 25) and lasts two years. You renew every two years, whoever your employer is (source) [source: heyzine.com, p.61]. Book the OWWA tile, then bring your passport, a copy of your work permit, contract or company ID, and a filled OFW Information Sheet [source: heyzine.com, p.69]. Returning OFWs need active membership, so check your status on the OWWA Mobile App before you book a flight (source).
Active members can use education and training, social benefits, on-site welfare assistance and repatriation programs [source: heyzine.com, p.68]. OWWA Singapore answers on +65 6040 6507 and its hotline +65 9023 5601 [source: heyzine.com, p.69].
Help for workers in distress: ATN, emergency hotline, what MWO can and cannot do
Since 1 July 2023, MWO Singapore has carried the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) work for OFWs, under Republic Act 11641. The Embassy's ATN section still works with MWO on cases [source: heyzine.com, p.60].
coordinate with your next of kin and help with repatriation [source: heyzine.com, p.53]
DMW's AKSYON Fund also offers financial aid to distressed OFWs and their families, under DMW Department Order 02-2025 (source).
MWO cannot replace Singapore's emergency services. Call 999 for police or 995 for an ambulance first [source: heyzine.com, p.87]. MWO also does not issue passports or notarize documents; those sit with the Consular Section.
Who to call:
OFW in trouble: MWO emergency line +65 9113 6552, or mwosg_services@dmw.gov.ph (source)
Yes. The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Singapore used to be called the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). It now operates as the overseas arm of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and sits inside the Philippine Embassy at 20 Nassim Road.
Can I walk in to MWO Singapore without an appointment?+
Plan on booking. The Embassy walk-in lane covers passport and notarial services only, for seniors, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, solo parents and emergencies. Book your MWO slot on go.mwosingapore.online before you go.
How much is contract verification at MWO Singapore?+
SGD 15, cash only, for OFWs who changed employer, position or jobsite, or who have no POEA or DMW record. Bring the exact amount because there is no ATM near the Embassy. Agency-hired individual contract verification costs SGD 60 per contract.
My contract or work permit expired but I have the same employer. Do I need to verify again?+
No. If MWO already verified your contract and you stay with the same employer, you do not need to verify the new one. Attach the new contract to your old verified contract in your e-registration account, and carry both when you fly home.
Do I still need an OEC if I have the OFW Pass?+
No. If you have a verified contract and the same employer, the OFW Pass from the eGovPH app replaces the OEC and stays valid for 90 days. Without an OFW Pass, you need an OEC, which is valid for 60 days and exempts you from travel tax and the airport terminal fee.
Can I pay MWO by card or PayNow?+
No. MWO and OWWA Singapore accept cash only, according to the 2026 OFW Handbook. No ATM sits near the Embassy, so bring the exact amount.
Who do I call in an emergency as an OFW in Singapore?+
For police or an ambulance, call 999 or 995 first. Then call the MWO emergency line at +65 9113 6552 or the OWWA line at +65 9023 5601. Tourists, students and other non-OFWs call the Embassy ATN line at +65 9072 2797.
Does MWO renew passports?+
No. Passports, notarials, NBI fingerprinting and civil registry belong to the Embassy's Consular Section, which uses a separate booking system. MWO handles labor matters such as contract verification, OEC, OWWA and help for distressed OFWs.
