Filipino caregivers face abuse and overwork in Korea’s pilot program

A forum highlighting the voices of Filipino caregivers is underway at the Seoul Metropolitan Council in Jung District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Na-sil

A pilot program designed to bring Filipino caregivers to Korea is drawing harsh criticism after reports surfaced of sexual harassment, excessive workloads and inadequate support for participants.

The program, backed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, is under fire for what critics say was a rushed and poorly monitored rollout that left many workers vulnerable.

A forum titled “Precarious Stay, Excluded Labor Rights: Voices of Filipino Caregivers” took place at the Seoul Metropolitan Council on Thursday, where civic group representatives and researchers presented findings from a field investigation.

According to the coalition supporting migrant care workers’ rights, 21 Filipino workers were interviewed anonymously in April and May, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges they face.

Lee Mi-ae, a research professor at Jeju National University, said many workers are burdened with duties far beyond their original contracts.

“One worker has to care not only for the employer’s child, but also for the entire family, including in-laws and even the family dog,” she said. “Some are pressured to give English conversation lessons to parents during the baby’s nap time, leaving virtually no time for rest.”

Sexual harassment cases

The report also revealed four cases of sexual harassment. Though victims didn’t report directly to their agencies, the cases emerged during interviews.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor denied any verified reports, saying, “We confirmed with local coordinators and Filipino interpreters that no such incidents occurred,” but added, “If specific facts are verified, we will take strict action.”

Despite initial promises of competitive pay, many workers reportedly take home only about 1.18 million won ($850) per month after deductions for housing, especially in high-rent districts like Gangnam.

Some even receive financial support from their families back home to make ends meet, a stark contrast to earlier criticism that their wages, at 2.38 million won, were excessive.

The report also pointed to exploitative contract structures. One of the two agencies employing the workers allegedly ties short-term contracts — some as brief as three to six months — to customer satisfaction ratings.

Since visa status is directly linked to employment, workers are effectively at the mercy of the employers.

The pilot program was launched in September 2024, bringing 100 Filipino women to Korea under a special employment permit. Only 88 remain today.

The caregivers, all women aged 24 to 38, underwent four to six months of training in the Philippines in areas such as nursing, pharmacology and disease management before arriving.

Koo Cheol-hoe of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said, “These women are placed in the most vulnerable of positions. Granting employers full control over contract extensions worsens their instability and deepens their dependence.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.