23 April 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Sending of Workers to the Republic of Korea between the Department of Labor and Employment of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Korea.

Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas and her Korean counterpart, Minister Kim Dae-hwan signed the MOU in Korea today.

“I am glad that the Philippines and Korea have concluded the Memorandum of Understanding on the Sending of Workers to the Republic of Korea.  The MOU will give our overseas Filipino workers the opportunity to participate in Korea’s employment system of hiring foreign workers and once hired, avail of the benefits under that system,” Secretary Albert said.

“This new development in RP-Korea bilateral relations is supportive of our foreign policy pillar to promote the rights and protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.   We thank the Korean government for being a steadfast partner in this aspect and for giving due recognition to the Filipino workingman,” the Secretary further added.

The Philippines will be the first country to sign an MOU under Korea’s new employment permit system, benefiting from the new law ahead of other countries when it takes effect on 17 August 2004.

Under this scheme, the deployed migrant workers shall be covered by a Labor Standard Contract, renewable yearly, which will assure them of labor rights similar to those being enjoyed by Korean workers.  In addition, they shall be able to avail of the four social protection mechanisms of Korea, namely industrial accident insurance, medical insurance, employment insurance and a pension scheme.  The workers shall be allowed to stay and work in Korea in cycles of three years, in between which they must stay out of Korea for at least one year.  END.