EPS Issues and Concerns for C.Y.2007-2008

by Elizer Penaranda Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:38 pm

SUMMARY OF HRD REPORT
ON THE EMPLOYMENT PERMIT SYSTEM
November 23, 2007

MEETING OF LABOR ATTACHES OF ALL LABOUR SENDING COUNTRIES
WITH THE MOL INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BUREAU

1. As of September 2007, a total of 83,821 workers were employed under the Employment Permit System, broken down as follows:

Manufacturing - 80,489
Construction 288
Agriculture & Livestock 2,709
Service 106
Fishery 229

Vietnam 22,343
Philippines 18,665
Thailand 16,393
Mongolia 11,002
Indonesia 8,480
China 115
Uzbekistan 61
Pakistan 69
Cambodia 9

2. The number of sending countries which started with 6 at the time of introduction of the EPS has increased to 15, namely:

The Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Kyrgyztan, Nepal, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

3. Accomplishments of the EPS for the last 3 years:

� Met the demand of labor market on unskilled foreign workers, mainly for the small and medium sized companies with 30 or less employees.

� Addressed discrimination against foreign workers by equally applying the Labor Relations Act for all workers (Art. 22 of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers).

� Strengthened transparency and fairness in the selection and introduction process of foreign workers.

� Enhanced satisfaction through continuous system improvement.

4. Detailed Plans for the Employment Permit System

� To establish measures to tackle the illegal alien issue (through consultation with related ministry)
� Improve the EPS operating system

a. Improve the procedures including that of changing workplace and continue to shorten the introduction period of foreign workers
b. Revise EPS-KLT system including the unification of test conducting agencies
c. Increase the number of support centers for foreign workers and expand support activities
d. Strengthen monitoring of the sending process to prevent irregularities.

5. Job Seekers� Roster by Country

� A ceiling for job seekers� roster this year (March 2007 � February 2008) is set to 100,000, and 36,719 job seekers were registered from March to September. Of this number, only 16,909 workers were introduced. A new ceiling will be set starting March 2008.

For the Philippines:

Ceiling 12,000
Workers registered 3,526
Workers introduced 3,291

6. Measures to revise the EPS-KLT

� Starting 2008, HRD-Korea will be conducting the EPS-KLT in all sending countries.
� The current application fee of $30 is considered high and its reduction to $15 is being discussed.
� EPS-KLT will be conducted on a regular basis and the test schedule will be announced in advance to enhance the predictability.
� Application has been made on a first come, first served basis within the limit of the allowed number. However, qualification for applying will be set through consultations with sending countries and application will be submitted in diverse ways including mail and online.
� In order to enhance the efficacy of the test, test kit that include useful expressions for industrial sites and daily lives will be produced, distributed and be used as the test question pool
� Evaluating the test result on a relative base rather than absolute base, in order to secure a stable number of job seekers.
� Introduction of Computer-based Test (CBT) to supplement the current Paper-based Test (PBT)

7. Thorough Medical Check before arrival

� Thorough medical check up is required at the time of registration to job seekers� roster. If the period from registration to the entry in Korea is more than 3 mos., workers are required to undergo another medical check-up before their departure for Korea.

8. Insurances for Foreign Workers

� In case foreign workers leave Korea without filing insurance claim (Departure Guarantee Insurance and Return Cost Insurance), payment will be reimbursed through the resident officials of HRD Korea in Manila.

Other Updates from HRD-Korea:

1. Re-Employment/Re-Hire

� Are re-hires allowed to apply for lump sum refund of their Pension contributions? Answer: Yes. Rehires should apply for all the benefits due them prior to return to home country.

� Are employers of rehired workers in the right not to give the severance pay, invoking that they are returning to the same employer anyway? Answer : No. The worker should be paid his severance pay prior to return to home country, even if he is rehired.

� For how many years is the sojourn of re-hired workers? Is it two (2) years or three (3) years? Answer: Three (3) years

� Is it true that the Re-Employment Program will be cancelled next year(2008)? Answer: False.

2. Labor Standards

� Has the MOL already set the Minimum Wage for 2008? Answer : Yes. Minimum wage for 2008 is KW 3,770/hour or KW 30,160/day (standard 8 hour-work)

3. Workers� Security and Protection

� Is there a scheme whereby rehires are covered by the Return Cost and Casualty Insurances? If there is, what is the scheme? Answer : Yes. Rehired workers must report to the HRD upon return to be registered/enrolled under the two insurance programs, upon payment of appropriate fees.(source:POLO)

by amie sison Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:17 pm

thanks for the news.dami nang eps dito...or kahit ofw...sa ibat-ibang panig ng mundo sana naman magkaroon na ng changes sa pilipinas..maging korea kaya ang bansa natin sa future?

by Elizer Penaranda Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:23 pm

Diba mas mayaman pa ang Pinas sa Korea before but look natin ang ginawa ng Korea and where they are now. But hindi pa huli ang lahat, payaman na tayo basta sikap lang po ang katapat. lol!

by dave Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:25 pm

Actually malaki talaga ang chance na aangat ang Philippines... only if the Filipino people will be able to heal the cancer of our own country which is CORRUPTION.

Currently there are 16 million people in Philippines who belongs to youth sector. If these young Filipinos are utilized properly starting today by our government, then we really have a great chance to improve our economy in the near future.

Try to compare:

South Korea has US$24,200 GDP per person while Philippines has US$5,000 only. Look at the gap of income per person? If we can reached the same GDP per person of Korea, then that's the time we can say that we have reached the same economy level of Korea.