DMW wants vetting of Filipino seasonal workers sent to South Korea

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) wants to be involved in processing seasonal workers sent by local government units to South Korea after receiving 40 labor-related complaints from Filipinos deployed there.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said the agency is seeking a joint circular with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to protect Filipino seasonal workers in South Korea.

“It would really help if ma-document sila ng DMW para mas ma-monitor natin ang kanilang sitwasyon,” he said in a press briefing. “And just as important, mas matataguyod natin yung kontrata nila that could be processed by the DMW, certified and verified by our Migrant Workers Office at post.”

[Translation: It would really help if the DMW can document them so we can monitor their situation. And just as important, the DMW could also process their contracts, which will be certified and verified by our Migrant Workers Office at post.]

The DMW said among the complaints they received include poor working conditions and unpaid salaries.

According to the Korean immigration office, the seasonal worker program allows legal hiring of Filipino workers from partner LGUs in the Philippines “to address chronic labor shortages during the busy farming and fishing season.”

The joint circular would give more government offices responsibility with regards to the welfare of the seasonal workers to be deployed to South Korea.

“Mas may greater responsibility yung mga government functionaries whether it’s the local government or the national government, such as the DMW and the DILG," Cacdac added. «Mas mababantayan ang mga OFWs.”

[Translation: The government functionaries would have greater responsibility whether it’s the local government or the national government, such as the DMW and the DILG. We can carefully monitor our OFWs.]

The DMW said it is planning to release the joint circular by the end of the year.