BI vows to strictly scrutinize Pinoys leaving for South Korea's seasonal workers program
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, Nov. 5, assured it will strictly scrutinize all departing Filipinos who are participating in South Korea’s Seasonal Workers Program (SWP).
South Korea’s SWP allows the hiring of foreign workers for short-term agricultural and fisheries employment to address labor shortages during peak seasons.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado made the assurance after signing the Joint Memorandum for the Implementation of the SWP last Tuesday, Nov. 4, along with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Agriculture (DA).
“The Bureau of Immigration fully supports this inter-agency effort to promote safe and legal overseas employment opportunities for Filipinos,” Viado said in a statement.
Through the BI’s strict departure and documentation procedures, the bureau will help ensure that only those with proper and legal documents are allowed to join the program, he also said.
He added that the memorandum strengthens the inter-agency cooperation to regulate and streamline the participation of Filipino workers in South Korea’s government-to-government program.
“The memorandum establishes clear guidelines to prevent the involvement of illegal intermediaries and ensure compliance with the rules governing overseas employment,” he explained.