Stay of 18,000 Filipinos in Korea may be legalized

The Philippine government expressed optimism yesterday that the South Korean government will soon legalize the status of some 18,000 undocumented Filipino workers there.

President Arroyo said she sought the passage of a law that would legalize the stay of these Filipino workers during her state visit to Seoul earlier this month.

"I asked the Korean National Assembly to pass the work permit law that would legalize the stay of undocumented foreign workers, including Filipinos," Mrs. Arroyo said in a radio message.

She noted that of the estimated 30,000 Filipinos working in South Korea, 18,000 are undocumented workers.

While the work permit measure has yet to be passed into law, Mrs. Arroyo said South Korean authorities gave illegally staying workers until Aug. 30 to avail themselves of the amnesty program.

Those who voluntarily register under the amnesty program will be allowed to stay and work in South Korea until March 2004, and then be repatriated to their respective countries.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment reported that majority of undocumented Filipino workers in South Korea have availed of the amnesty program.

Labor Undersecretary Manuel Imson said the government is hopeful that undocumented Filipino workers in South Korea would be legalized before they are due for repatriation.

After the President’s meeting with South Korean legislators, "we are hoping that the passage of the law that would provide relief to Filipino workers would push through," he said.

The South Korean government is expected to pass the work permit law before yearend, Imson said, citing the report from Seoul of labor attaché Reydeluz Conferido.

The President’s trip to South Korea and Japan has resulted in some $1.5 billion in investments and other financial assistance to the Philippines.

Mrs. Arroyo said agreements amounting to $500 million were forged in South Korea, while Japanese businessmen pledged to invest $1 billion into various projects in the country.

The biggest chunk of the $500 million assistance from South Korea is the 100-megawatt power plant to be put up by the Korea Electric Power Corp. in Antique, estimated to cost $150 million.

Included in the $500 million South Korean assistance package is the $100 million assistance fund, $10 million for information technology and vocational training, and $50 million for the construction of the South Railway System in Muntinlupa City.

Despite the unfavorable comments made by Japanese Ambassador Kojiro Takano against the Philippines, Mrs. Arroyo said Japanese businessmen promised to continue to pour investments into the country.

The President added that the Japanese government also promised to donate an automated fingerprint identification system that will be used by the Philippine National Police.

The Japanese government will also provide anti-SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) equipment to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, financial assistance to the people of Mindanao, and funding for information technology programs.

Last month, Mrs. Arroyo netted over $3 billion worth of agreements during her state visit to the United States.