THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of the moratorium on the hiring of seasonal workers to South Korea through local government units (LGUs).
Speaking at the Post-SONA Discussions held in Pasay City, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac likewise warned the DMW will file illegal recruitment cases against those that continue the old practice of recruiting workers to South Korea via bilateral arrangements between LGUs.
“This system had been curtailed. But, having said that, we are still continuously filing the appropriate cases,” said Cacdac.
“We will not hesitate to file cases of illegal recruitment if this brokering arrangement continues,” he added.
To note, the seasonal workers program between LGUs of the Philippines and South Korea allowed short term employment for Filipino agricultural workers to address labor shortages during the peak planting and harvesting season in South Korea.
Subsequently, the DMW received complaints of physical abuses and other labor rights violations from deployed OFWs under the said program, prompting it to issue a moratorium last January that temporarily stopped the deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea.
Since then, the DMW has taken over the program and implemented a process where every applicant goes through the department, including the review of their employment contracts, insurance policies, and medical insurance provisions.
Additionally, Cacdac said they are exploring the possibility of forging a government-to-government arrangement with South Korea regarding the deployment of seasonal workers.
This, he said, will be similar to the existing Employment Permit System (EPS) between the Philippines and South Korea, which covers factory workers and caregivers.
