FILIPINOS EPS WORKERS CALL ON PHL AMBASSADOR

By: Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Seoul

FEWA President Malou Espinola expressed her appreciation to Ambassador Hernandez and Labor Attaché Fellicitas Q. Bay for the Embassy's tireless efforts to ensure the welfare of almost 24,000 workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) in Korea.

Ambassador Hernandez shared with the members the highlights of his recent meeting with Korean Minister of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Lee Ki-kweon concerning the enhancement of Filipino workers' protection and safety.

In their meeting on 9 March 2015, Ambassador Hernandez recommended to MOEL Minister Lee that Korean employers attend orientations aimed at fostering better understanding of the culture of their foreign workers and continuous education on EPS regulations, compliance with labor standards and practices, occupational health and safety, and on social insurance.

Also attending the courtesy call were FEWA volunteers, including students from the Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO) led its president Judee Grace Nemeno, who is a consultant to the organization's monthly official publication Sulyap Pinoy, and Elena dela Cruz, a consultant from the municipal Seoul Global Center.

FEWA was established in 2006, two years after the establishment of the EPS through the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Philippines and Korea that allows mainly SMEs that fail to attract Korean laborers to resort to the hiring of Filipino workers in the country.

The organization aims to assist EPS workers thru counseling on labor-related issues in coordination with the Embassy's Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), outreach programs of hospitalized EPS workers and intervene on migrant related issues that affect the welfare of the Filipinos.

Other projects include 밫he Baliktanaw Project: 10 won can make a difference, which involved the continuing collection of 10 cent coins from members throughout the year which aims to reach a sufficient amount to buy school supplies or computers, for donation to public schools in the Philippines.

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