MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos seeking employment in South Korea ca now leave faster than before.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to shorten to 30 days the processing and deployment of Filipino workers to that country.
“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 said.
Based on POEA record, over 10,000 Filipinos are set to undertake the mandatory language test in November to qualify for employment in South Korea.
She noted that the Philippines is now second to Nepal in terms of efficiency in sending workers to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
Among 15 countries sending workers to South Korea under the EPS, the Philippines ranked fourth with a total deployment of 39,418 for the past 10 years.
Baldoz said the Philippines has also succeeded in reducing the number of undocumented Filipino migrants to 19.6 percent as of June this year.
The POEA has intensified the campaign among EPS workers to obey the Korean law requiring foreign migrants to go back to the Philippines after their employment contract expires.
Baldoz said 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, Filipino workers’ maximum stay of three years has been extended to four years and 10 months.
OFWs are also now allowed to work for the same employer if he is sincere and loyal when offered another contract.
Baldoz expressed hope that the Philippines can deploy more women workers under the program.