Workers in Korea face salary cuts

Filipino workers employed in South Korea face possible salary cuts once Seoul implements a new hiring system, local recruiters warned yesterday.

Under the previous setup, overseas Filipino workers were hired to undergo a one-year employment training, which could be extended for another two years, depending on the OFWs’ performance.

However, many of the trainees did not return to the Philippines. Most of them found jobs as undocumented workers in South Korea, prompting the Korean government to adopt the new system.

"The latest requirement by the Korean government for OFWs applying under the Employment Permit System (EPS) is unfair and is an added burden to those workers who are just applying," recruiters deploying Filipinos to Korea said.

Under the new system, the minimum salary of foreign workers in Korea is $500, but they can earn as much as $1,500 on overtime work, which is often encouraged by their employers.

However, unlike in the previous system under which trainees are provided with free board and lodging, workers are now required to pay for their own board and lodging as well as taxes to the Korean government.

"The new system would cut the monthly gross (income) of Filipino workers by at least $300," the recruiters said.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said Korea is set to implement the EPS, which requires job applicants to enroll with the International Korean Language Foundation and then have their fluency in the Korean language tested.

Once they pass this test, only then shall the applicants’ names be included in the list sent to Korea for possible employment.

Aside from undergoing the language test that would cost each applicant P5,000, they also need to undergo mandatory medical testing that costs another P5,000.

Local recruiters complained that after shelling out money for these tests, most applicants end up waiting for several months before they are selected and processed for employment.