(123rf)
(123rf)

Filipina caregivers voiced dissatisfaction with the ongoing six-month pilot program, citing concerns over wages and working conditions, including the scope of their duties, according to a survey by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses.

Concerns highlighted in the survey, disclosed on Monday by Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, included insufficient net income caused by accommodation costs and the burden of various living expenses, cramped living conditions, lengthy commutes and unclear job responsibilities.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 4 to 10, targeted 98 Filipina caregivers participating in the pilot program, excluding two who had already left. It was carried out via a KakaoTalk group chat used during training sessions in August, following the forced deportation of two workers who had absconded from their designated accommodations in September.

The survey outcome showed that one worker’s September salary of 1.83 million won ($1,300) was reduced by around 40 percent due to regular expenses, including accommodation fees of 539,000 won and communication costs of 33,000 won, leaving her with a net income of just 1.12 million won.

Workers must cover all other living expenses, such as food, transportation and personal necessities, with what remains of their pay.

Due to those situations, some workers have expressed dissatisfaction with their financial situation and workload.

During the survey, one caregiver shared that it is difficult to save in Seoul due to the high costs of housing, transportation and food, which are all borne by the workers themselves.

Another worker mentioned the strain of an excessive workload, which includes cleaning five rooms, hand-washing laundry and other household tasks, during her eight-hour work shift. She also said she did not get any breaks.

Workers have also raised concerns about long commutes. Some respondents reported traveling up to four hours a day to manage multiple households in many districts, such as Eunpyeong-gu and Gangseo-gu, while residing in Gangnam-gu.

Additionally, there have been complaints about a mismatch between job expectations and actual duties, according to the survey.

While workers are trained in caregiving services in the Philippines, many report being tasked primarily with housekeeping duties upon arriving in Korea.

Despite these challenges, the Labor Ministry plans to expand the program significantly next year. Starting with 100 participants this year, the ministry announced plans to increase the number to 1,200 workers by 2025 -- while also exploring the possibility of recruiting caregivers from other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.

However, critics argue that the program needs thorough reassessment before any expansion is implemented.

Rep. Lee stressed the need for careful review.

"The program was launched without sufficient preparation or evaluation of issues such as wages, workload and housing. It is essential to address these structural issues rather than rushing to expand."

The six-month pilot program, co-launched by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, began in September and will continue through February next year. It originally aims to address child care shortages by employing 100 Filipina caregivers to assist 169 selected Seoul households with children under 12 or expecting parents.

Despite its goals, the program has been criticized for failing to address affordability. Critics say the services are too expensive for many Korean households, and that the workers' wages are not high enough to cover living costs in Seoul.

In mid-September, two workers left the program, later found in October working in Busan, citing overwork and excessive surveillance as their reasons for leaving.


jenn@heraldcorp.com