A Filipina domestic worker takes care of a baby in a home in Seoul. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)
A Filipina domestic worker takes care of a baby in a home in Seoul. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

Seoul's plan to recruit more nannies from the Philippines remains in doubt, with a pilot scheme set to end this month without confirmation of its expansion into a full-fledged program.

The South Korean government, instead, has decided to temporarily extend the pilot program to ensure continued service for households currently taking part, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said.

A ministry official stated that the extension aims to prevent disruptions for existing users before transitioning to a full-scale program. However, the exact duration of the extension has yet to be determined.

Launched in September 2023, the six-month pilot program has allowed caregivers to work on E-9 visas to assist dual-income, single-parent and large families with children. Currently, 98 workers are providing services to 185 households in Seoul.

The government initially planned to expand the program nationwide, increasing the number of nannies to 1,200. However, a demand survey conducted in December last year showed limited interest outside of Seoul, with only minimal requests from Busan and Sejong and no demand from 14 other municipalities.

Concerns over labor rights, low wages and delayed payments further complicated the transition to a permanent program.

To address potential service gaps, the ministry will extend the pilot program on a monthly basis until a full-scale program is launched. As part of this extension, the work visas for Filipina domestic workers will also be extended. The ministry plans to extend the initial seven-month E-9 visa period by an additional 29 months, allowing workers to stay for a maximum of 36 months.

E-9 visas are issued to citizens of selected countries, mostly in South and Southeast Asia, to do "nonprofessional" labor.

Originally, E-9 visa holders could only work in the agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and construction sectors, with restaurants serving Korean food, hotels and resorts, forestry and mining added more recently. The program has been expanded to include domestic services like child care and housekeeping.

Meanwhile, service providers have indicated potential cost adjustments. Households currently pay an hourly rate of 13,940 won ($9.60), which includes the minimum wage of 10,030 won and social insurance costs. A notice sent to users stated that service prices and other conditions may change, with details to be announced later.

In response to growing concerns that the service fee could increase once the program is turned over to private firms, the Labor Ministry confirmed that specific measures on how to operate the program and pricing adjustments are still under review.

The expansion of the program into a full-scale initiative remains uncertain. A Seoul city government official noted that issues related to visas and the employment permit system require coordination with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. A ministry representative stated that discussions are ongoing, but declined to provide a timeline for a final decision.


jychoi@heraldcorp.com