#83 OFW Party List Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino has urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Local Government Units (LGUs) to intensify information dissemination about the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) in South Korea.
She advocates for utilizing online platforms, DMW regional offices, and news outlets to ensure applicants are aware of the proper application process and their rights as seasonal farm workers.
Rep. Magsino’s call stems from firsthand accounts of labor rights violations she heard during a town hall meeting with Filipino communities in South Korea in June 2023. The SWP allows Filipinos to work on farms in South Korea for 3 to 5 months, based on Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between local governments.
Following Magsino’s plea, the DMW, in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy in South Korea and the Migrant Workers Office, issued Advisory No. 01-A to E to revise the SWP process and guidelines. The new guidelines mandate LGUs to ensure the MOU includes fair working conditions, reasonable wages, and access to medical care for workers. They also require monitoring processes, status reports, submission of complete employment contracts, and a commitment from the LGU to refrain from collecting unauthorized fees.
The guidelines also emphasize the payment of OWWA membership under the Seasonal Work Invitation Program for Family Members.
Magsino stresses the importance of disseminating this information to prevent exploitation, particularly given reported cases of applicants paying exorbitant fees to illegal brokers or even LGUs for their deployment.
“Many seasonal workers are still unaware of the proper process and their rights under the new DMW guidelines. This makes them vulnerable to brokers or some LGU staff who charge exorbitant fees for their deployment. There are reports of applicants paying over a hundred thousand pesos. They also don’t know the proper working conditions, leading to abuse,” Magsino explained.
She encourages applicants to verify the legitimacy of their contracts and fees by contacting the DMW.
“Go to the DMW regional offices or call their hotlines to ensure you’re not being tricked by those offering jobs under the SWP,” she added.
Beyond filing House Resolution 1343 to review the SWP, the #83 OFW Party List continues to monitor the recruitment and deployment system to combat fraud and abuse within the program.
