Employers prefer Filipinos: 10,000 jobs available in South Korea

CEBU, Philippines – There are now 10,100 slots made available for Filipino workers in the manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fishery sectors in South Korea.

This number, according to an official of a manpower agency, is mainly because most Korean employers prefer Filipinos as their workers.

The Korean Government has set the quota for foreign workers at 24,000 for 2010.

Mr. Choi Sueng Ho, president of HRD Korea, explained that it is not the Korean Government, but the private employers, who set the quota for each country.

"It is decided by Korean employers' choice and preference how many Filipino workers the Korean Government will allow to work. In other words, if the employers have higher preference to hire Filipino workers, the quota allowed for Filipinos will be increased," said Mr. Choi.

Mr. Choi's company, the HRD Korea, is a manpower agency that facilitates the employment of Koreans abroad, as well as gives opportunity for other nationals to work in Korea.

This development is expected to strengthen ties between Korea and the Philippines, according to officials of both countries in a conference with the press yesterday.

Lawyer Augusto W. Go, Korean consul, made the announcement before members of the press at the University of Cebu-Banilad Campus along with officials of HRD Korea and the Korean Community Association.

The foreign workers are given the same amount of salaries as the Koreans. Their minimum wage is about 32, 800 won per eight hours or some US$770 per month.

The Korean Community Association vouched that the Filipinos and other workers will have equal treatment.

They also said that the employees will have insurance like social security, health care, safety insurance and legal assistance. The contract is for four years and 10 months. 

Interested applicants should be between 18-45 years old with good health and no criminal records. It is also very important that the applicant passed the Korean proficiency examination. They can pass their application to POEA Philippines or to the Korean Community Association.

As of now, only Manila and Pampanga have the school facility for the Korean proficiency examination.

Go pledged that he will reopen his school facilities for Korean proficiency examination this May 2011.

By next year, the Korean Community Association plans to open five examination places and school facilities or Korean proficiency examination in the Philippines for the convenience of the Filipino applicants. - Vanessa Barcial and Maluna Sanguenza, USJ-R Masscom Interns/JPM (FREEMAN)