ILO sets talks on OFW deployment through EPS
01/12/2008 | 05:24 PM
The International Labor Organization has set a national-level workshop that aims to bridge “gaps" between employers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) hired through South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS).
James Macasil, ILO program assistant, said the talks scheduled on January 14 and 15 aims to address concerns on the growing problems brought about by differences in language and “huge cultural gap" between employers and Filipino workers.
Similar discussions will also take place for other labor-sending countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The overall purpose of the workshops is to make the system of recruitment and selection of workers for employment in Korea more efficient, fair, and transparent and to anticipate and find remedies to the problems that the migrant workers typically face when employed," Macasil said.
From 2004 up to the first quarter of 2007, a total of 65,429 foreign workers have been hired through EPS. Of this number, 23 percent are Filipinos, 24 percent are Vietnamese, 21 percent Thais, 15 Mongolians, 9 percent Indonesians and 8 percent from Sri Lankans.
The EPS is a government-to-government hiring scheme intended to curb the problem over illegal recruitment.
It replaced the Alien Industrial Trainee System that allowed hiring through private recruiters. Korea had abolished the trainee scheme and stopped issuing trainee visas since Jan 1, 2007.
South Korea’s labor ministry has increased by 20 percent the job roster quota of the Philippines in 2007 to 12,000 from 10,000 in 2006.
Under the EPS small and medium business establishments in Korea with less than 300 workers and are in sectors declared by the government to be in high rate of labor shortage, may be allowed to employ foreign workers
However, problems such as skills mismatch as well as “difficulties in communication, questions over loyalty of workers to their employers and the huge cultural gap" have raised concerns on the EPS program’s effectiveness. - GMANews.TV
James Macasil, ILO program assistant, said the talks scheduled on January 14 and 15 aims to address concerns on the growing problems brought about by differences in language and “huge cultural gap" between employers and Filipino workers.
Similar discussions will also take place for other labor-sending countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The overall purpose of the workshops is to make the system of recruitment and selection of workers for employment in Korea more efficient, fair, and transparent and to anticipate and find remedies to the problems that the migrant workers typically face when employed," Macasil said.
From 2004 up to the first quarter of 2007, a total of 65,429 foreign workers have been hired through EPS. Of this number, 23 percent are Filipinos, 24 percent are Vietnamese, 21 percent Thais, 15 Mongolians, 9 percent Indonesians and 8 percent from Sri Lankans.
The EPS is a government-to-government hiring scheme intended to curb the problem over illegal recruitment.
It replaced the Alien Industrial Trainee System that allowed hiring through private recruiters. Korea had abolished the trainee scheme and stopped issuing trainee visas since Jan 1, 2007.
South Korea’s labor ministry has increased by 20 percent the job roster quota of the Philippines in 2007 to 12,000 from 10,000 in 2006.
Under the EPS small and medium business establishments in Korea with less than 300 workers and are in sectors declared by the government to be in high rate of labor shortage, may be allowed to employ foreign workers
However, problems such as skills mismatch as well as “difficulties in communication, questions over loyalty of workers to their employers and the huge cultural gap" have raised concerns on the EPS program’s effectiveness. - GMANews.TV
READER'S FEEDBACK:
From: Leslie (leslie_guapa_69@yahoo.com) in Gunpo City, South Korea
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 6:38 AM
Good morning ho,maganda na ho ang kalagayan ng karamihan ng mga EPS, huwag n'yo nang guluhin, mas mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya sa Pinas, TY.
From: Lee in Incheon, South Korea
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 7:36 PM
Sana po POEA pa rin 'yung hiring papunta sa Korea. Huwag naman sana sa recruitment agencies, piperahan lang ang mga aplikante. P200,000 gastos kapag sa
recruitment agencies. Kawawa naman ang mga naghahangad makapunta sa Korea.
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 6:38 AM
Good morning ho,maganda na ho ang kalagayan ng karamihan ng mga EPS, huwag n'yo nang guluhin, mas mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya sa Pinas, TY.
From: Lee in Incheon, South Korea
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 7:36 PM
Sana po POEA pa rin 'yung hiring papunta sa Korea. Huwag naman sana sa recruitment agencies, piperahan lang ang mga aplikante. P200,000 gastos kapag sa
recruitment agencies. Kawawa naman ang mga naghahangad makapunta sa Korea.
