Gov’t eyes faster OFW deployment to South Korea

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos seeking employment in South Korea can depart much faster than before.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said last week she has ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to shorten to 30 days the processing and deployment of Filipino workers to South Korea.

“The POEA should work on the challenge to cut down the process cycle from the current 50 days to less than 45 days and even 30 days if possible,” Baldoz disclosed.

Based on POEA figures, over 10,000 Filipinos are set to undertake the mandatory language test in November so they can qualify for employment in South Korea.

Baldoz noted that the Philippines now placed second to Nepal in terms of the efficiency in sending overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS).

Among 15 countries sending workers to South Korea under EPS, the Philippines ranked fourth in terms of deployment, with a total deployment of 39,418 for the past 10 years. 

For the past decade, Baldoz said, the Philippines has also succeeded in reducing the number of undocumented Filipino migrants to 19.6 percent as of June this year.

She said the POEA has intensified campaign among EPS workers to obey the Korean Law requiring foreign migrants to go back to the Philippines after their employment contract.

According to Baldoz, both the Philippines and South Korea have benefited from the overseas employment arrangement, which was renewed in 2008 and for the third time this year.

During the 10-year period, the Filipino worker’s maximum stay of three years has been extended to four years and 10 months.

Baldoz expressed hope that the Philippines can deploy more women workers under the program.