'We're caregivers, not maids,' say Filipino domestic workers in Korea
Filipino workers participating in the pilot program for foreign domestic workers arrive at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 6. Yonhap
When asked about her expected duties, Mary (a pseudonym), a participant in Korea's pilot program for Filipino domestic workers, said that she was told her role would involve "taking care of expectant mothers or children in households."
Another participant, Belle (a pseudonym), also said, "My main job is caregiving, and I understand that I will only assist with household chores related to caregiving when necessary."
This perspective differs from the traditional role of "domestic workers" in Korea, who often take on multiple responsibilities, such as caring for children while also preparing meals for other family members or housecleaning. This could signal potential conflicts over the scope of duties in the future.
The Hankook Ilbo reached out to about 10 of the 100 Filipino domestic workers who were selected for the program on June 21. Some declined to comment, and others who initially agreed later withdrew due to concerns related to their employment status.
Mary and Belle also expressed worries after the interview, fearing possible repercussions, so pseudonyms were used to protect their identities. The interviews were conducted via social media messages before the workers arrived in Korea last month.
A woman who applied for the Korean government's pilot program for foreign domestic workers takes a second test in June. Captured from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's Facebook page
Disputes likely over child care-related duties
On Tuesday, 100 Filipino domestic workers in their 20s and 30s arrived in Korea and are currently undergoing training in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. They will be dispatched to households in Seoul next month, but controversies over unclear job descriptions persist.
According to guidelines from the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the primary duty of these workers is "caregiving."
This includes dressing and bathing children, preparing baby food and cooking meals for pregnant women. Mary and Belle, like other participants, understood these as their main responsibilities.
In addition to caregiving, they may also perform some household tasks. For example, if they work more than six hours, they may be asked to do laundry for adults, wash adults' dishes and clean floors with a vacuum or mop.
However, tasks such as trash disposal, cooking meals for adults and organizing storage are not permitted.
While they can perform incidental household chores related to child care, the definition of what constitutes child care-related duties could lead to disputes.
Opinions among the workers themselves also vary. Mary said, "I don't think it's possible to draw a clear line between tasks," adding that she's OK with doing household chores, considering them part of the job.
On the other hand, Belle expressed concerns, saying, "It won't be easy to refuse work instructions," but she also emphasized, "I hope people understand that we're not housemaids but caregivers."
The Filipino workers were selected based on strict criteria, including possession of a government-certified caregiver license (with over 780 hours of training), language proficiency in English and Korean and a clean criminal record.
Filipino workers participating in the pilot program for foreign domestic workers pose in Manila before departing for Korea. Captured from Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's Facebook page
'Going to Korea a choice for my family'
One of the reasons Mary came to Korea was financial. "I earned 22,000 pesos (about 520,000 won) a month working for a company," she said. She supplemented this income with a second job, earning an additional 400,000 won per month.
Considering that the average monthly wage in the Philippines is 18,423 pesos (about 440,000 won as of 2022), this was not a small amount.
However, as her children grew up, the need for more money increased. She eventually looked to overseas work, which offered higher pay.
"I will miss my family, but I made this decision to provide them with a better future and a more comfortable life," she said.
Belle, who also worked in the education sector, earned 30,000 pesos (about 710,000 won) a month by working day and night, but it wasn't enough to support her large family. To earn more, she obtained a caregiving license and sought overseas employment.
Their goal is to send at least one-third of their earnings in Korea back to their families in the Philippines.
"I heard that the monthly salary in Korea is about 2 million won. The minimum work requirement is 30 hours a week, but I don't mind working more. I want to earn as much as possible," Belle said.
These workers are entitled to the same minimum wage as Korean citizens. Based on this year's wage (9,860 won per hour), they will earn 1.19 million won per month for working four hours a day, five days a week, or 2.38 million won for eight hours a day.
This is more than they would earn in Singapore or Hong Kong, where the monthly salary ranges from 500,000 won to 800,000 won.
When asked if the minimum wage policy influenced her decision to come to Korea, Mary said, "I knew Korea had a minimum wage," but added, "More than that, I was interested in Korean culture and wanted to experience living in Korea."
Both Mary and Belle shared that their short-term goal is to find good employers, while their long-term goal is to return home healthy, with diverse experiences and happy memories from their time in Korea.
Filipino workers who will participate in the pilot program for foreign domestic workers arrive at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. Yonhap
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.