South Korea’s six-month pilot program to introduce Filipino childcare workers begins next month. The program aims to address the country’s declining birth rate and domestic worker shortage, but its effectiveness and accessibility for target beneficiaries remain major concerns.

The South Korean government initiated the program to provide affordable childcare support for vulnerable households, including single-parent families, those with multiple children and expectant mothers.

However, the monthly wages for Filipino childcare workers, ranging from $890 to $1,780, equate to nearly half of the median income for an average South Korean household, posing a significant financial burden for the low-income families