21 August 2024, Seoul-Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega joined the 2024 EPS Conference and Seminar organized by Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) on 12 August 2024 in Lotte Hotel World, Seoul.

The conference was chaired by Minister Lee, Jung Sik of MOEL and co-chaired by President Lee Woo Young of the Human Resource Development Service Korea (HRDK). It was attended by the Ambassadors, Labor Attaches, and sending entities of the 17 EPS sending countries. During the meeting, the Labor Minister announced the direction and plans of the EPS towards a sustainable foreign workforce policy that will adequately support labor standards supervision across all types of foreign workers, and adaptable to the growing needs of the industry.

In her statement, Ambassador de Vega said that the 20 years of cooperation on EPS is an important hallmark of the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Korea, particularly on people-to-people ties. She commended the MOEL and HRDK for considering important reforms towards skills-based and longer-term employment of workers under the EPS. "As a pioneer sending country, we have seen how the EPS continually improved its processes and evolved in positive ways as it responded to the changing labor market needs and recommendations from its partner countries through regular dialogues", the Ambassador said.

With continued expansion of the EPS in terms of number, new occupation and sectors, Ambassador de Vega proposed measures to further enhance the social protection and working condition of workers, particularly on repatriation, enforcement of leaves, and registration procedures for jobseekers. The MOEL responded positively to the views and recommendations of each of the participating Embassies.

As part of the program, Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers provided a recorded congratulatory message to the MOEL and HRDK on the occasion of the 20th year of EPS. The story of Ms. Noname Pinggoy, former Filipino EPS worker, who was among the first batch of EPS workers who arrived in Korea 20 years ago, was also featured during the conference. On the other hand, Mr. Jayson Espana, former EPS worker and Ms. Josephine Infante of the DMW received citations for being a successful EPS returnee and best employee of the sending organization, respectively.

Labor Attache Ma. Celeste Valderrama of the Embassy's Migrant Workers Office joined the Ambassador during the meeting. END