A lawmaker in the Philippines has raised the alarm over the alleged abuse and exploitation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in South Korea and Hong Kong.
During the plenary session at the House of Representatives on Monday, Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino (OFW Party List) said that approximately 60,000 OFWs in South Korea are facing issues such as illegal recruitment, human trafficking, contract switching, investment scams and labor standard violations.
The lone OFW representative in Congress met with community leaders of OFWs in South Korea, the Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Labor Attaché Ma. Celeste Valderrama to discuss the plight of OFWs in the host country.
Allegedly perpetuating the said exploitation, according to Magsino, are the arrangements made between local government units (LGUs) of South Korea and the Philippines.
According to the Ministry of Justice Korea Immigration Service (MOJ), the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) offers agricultural work to farmers from other countries to “address chronic labor shortages” in South Korea for three (C-4 Visa) to five months (E-8 Visa).
Dinagat Islands sent 74 seasonal workers to Pyeongchang County in April, as per an MOU between Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. and Pyeongchang County, aimed at deploying around 2,000 farmers and fishermen for year-long employment in South Korea.