MIGRANT Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac yesterday said the Philippine government will provide legal assistance to the two Filipino caregivers arrested in South Korea for abandoning their work, violating their contracts and violating immigration laws.
Cacdac, in an interview in Malacanang, said officials from the Department of Migrant Workers have already met with the two Filipinos and “they’re okay.”
“They’re currently being assisted and there’s an investigation ongoing but rest assured we will assist them in legal terms as well as welfare, and well-being terms. So, we will ensure their safety. So far, they’re okay,” he said.
Cacdac said the government is assessing the six-month pilot program for the deployment of Filipino caregivers in South Korea in coordination with the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor.
He said they are determined to address issues and concerns that have been raised or might have surfaced during the pilot implementation of the program.
Cacdac also said the case of the two Filipinos is “isolated” considering the deployment involved an initial 100 persons last August.
He also declined to provide details on why the two caregivers abandoned their jobs pending the probe.
He said the government will address any concerns that they may have or encountered.
Cacdac said the government aims to, among others, improve the information drive and orientation of would-be caregivers about immigration laws and other pertinent laws in Korea before they are deployed as well as orient them on the living conditions and what to expect during their work abroad, among others.