MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government on Friday urged Filipino caregivers working in South Korea to strictly follow that country’s immigration laws, after two women failed to return to their jobs following a holiday break.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac expressed concern over the incident, which he said could result in the women being classified as illegal immigrants and banned from further employment in South Korea under government-to-government hiring programs.
“We’re working with Korean authorities and we are very concerned. We do not want this to happen again,” Cacdac said in an interview in Pasay City.
The two women were part of a group of 100 Filipino caregivers deployed to South Korea in August under the Employment Permit System pilot project. The program provides caregiving assistance to Korean households with young children, expectant mothers, single parents or working couples.
According to Cacdac, the caregivers left their quarters on Sept. 15, the second day of the five-day Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holiday, and have not returned to work since Sept. 18. They remained out of contact as of the time the report was filed.
Cacdac acknowledged that such issues are part of the challenges of a pilot program, noting that 98 of the 100 caregivers are “doing well.”
“Rest assured, the Philippines and Korean governments are working together on this matter,” he said, urging the missing workers and their families to report to the Philippine Migrant Workers Office in Seoul.
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of migrant workers strictly adhering to the laws and regulations of their host countries, particularly in pilot programs where the stakes are high for both the workers and the governments involved.
