The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has implemented a temporary suspension on the employment and deployment of seasonal workers to South Korea.
Based on the Advisory No. 1 series of 2024 dated January 11 but published January 15, DMW said the moratorium shall be in effect until further notice.
The temporary suspension was enforced to protect seasonal workers amidst the reported illegal recruitment and labor and pending review of the seasonal worker program.
"The moratorium aims to strengthen the protection of the rights of the seasonal workers in light of documented reporters of illegal recruitment, labor, and welfare cases pending the review of an interagency issuance on the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) that will establish the framework for interagency cooperation and standards for overseas deployment in line with existing DMW rules and regulations on the employment of landbased workers, and upon consultation with the stakeholders," the agency said.
The order was said to be consulted with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the immigration bureau, and the foreign affairs department.
Advisory No. 1 was signed by DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac.
