By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday said the deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea through local government units (LGUs) has been temporarily suspended following reports of illegal recruitment activities.
In a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the decision is part of an ongoing effort to curb unlawful practices in the recruitment process.
He said the processing of workers under South Korea’s Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) from seven LGUs has been put on hold due to illegal recruitment.
“We are also being very strict about compliance with protective mechanisms regarding the safety and well-being of the seasonal workers. And for that reason, the processing of workers from seven LGUs has been put on hold for various reasons,” Cacdac said.
Cacdac refused to identify the seven LGUs but said these local governments need to step up efforts in curbing illegal recruitment of seasonal workers.
In the same briefing, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said 37 illegal recruitment cases have been filed with 118 complainants.
“We know that two of them, one in Pasay and one in Davao, are ongoing. However, one in Tarlac has been dismissed due to an out-of-court settlement by the complainants,” he said.
He said a DMW team might visit South Korea to continue the monitoring process and to personally check the situation of the employed seasonal workers.
Cacdac said over 6,100 workers have been deployed so far under the revised protocols with proper employment contracts, industrial accident compensation insurance, and membership in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
He said since the revision of protocols that requires overseas Filipino workers under the SWP to process with the DMW, no cases of serious illness or death have been recorded among the seasonal workers.
The DMW also has also been implementing a monitoring framework in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Seoul and the OWWA, maintaining daily contact with workers to ensure the OFWs’ well-being.