The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in coordination with its Korean counterpart is continually assessing and monitoring the six-month pilot program for Filipino caregivers in South Korea after two Filipino caregivers deserted during the first month of their employment.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in a media briefing on Monday said that the DMW is in coordination with the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) to address issues and concerns that arose during the initial phase of the program for Filipino caregivers.

“It’s a pilot program and we expect certain challenges, issues, and problems along the way, which are now being carefully addressed by both sides. ‘Yun ang kagandahan ng longstanding bilateral labor relationship between Korea and the Philippines. We are equipped to address these issues and concerns as we have for the last 20 years from the Employment Permit System,” said  Cacdac.

The Secretary said that the absence and suspected desertion of two Filipino caregivers are two isolated cases that will not affect the overall program.

The DMW through its Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Seoul, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy, is providing legal assistance and other forms of support to the two Filipina caregivers who are now under the custody of Busan Immigration for investigation.

Cacdac said the DMW will make corresponding adjustments to better inform Filipino caregivers prior to their departure, particularly on understanding the implications of violating the Korean immigration laws. Likewise, to ensure that Filipino caregivers are adequately prepared before deployment.

The DMW and MOEL are in close coordination to improve the implementation of the pilot program and support Filipino workers during their initial adjustment period. 

The Secretary, meanwhile, reminds Filipino caregivers deployed under the pilot program to continue fulfilling their obligations contained in their employment contracts and obey the labor laws and regulations of the Korean government.

The Caregiver Pilot Program, which is an entirely different program from the traditional Employment Permit System (EPS), deployed the first batch of 100 Filipino caregivers on August 6, 2024, through the government-to-government arrangement with active contracts for six months.