Philippine labor authorities on Wednesday warned job applicants and local government officials against illegal recruiters and third-party brokers offering unauthorized placement services for South Korea’s Seasonal Workers Program.
The Department of Migrant Workers said the use of brokers for the recruitment, training, and deployment of Filipino seasonal laborers to South Korea is strictly prohibited.
According to Advisory No. 54 issued by the agency, South Korea has designated the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries—an agency under its Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs—as the sole central government body managing the seasonal program.
The department emphasized that private firms in South Korea are not authorized to arrange or facilitate sister-city or twinning agreements between Philippine and South Korean local government units to carry out the program.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac urged participating local officials to avoid engaging with unauthorized intermediaries, noting the advisory aligns with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to enhance protections for overseas Filipino workers.
Cacdac stressed that bypassing unauthorized brokers is critical to safeguarding the welfare of seasonal workers and ensuring compliance with overseas employment regulations.
Local government units seeking further information regarding the seasonal program were advised to contact the department’s Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau in Mandaluyong City.
