{"id":2201845,"date":"2023-08-01T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T23:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201845"},"modified":"2023-07-31T15:20:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T06:20:17","slug":"south-korea-launches-pilot-program-to-employ-foreign-domestic-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/south-korea-launches-pilot-program-to-employ-foreign-domestic-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea launches pilot program to employ foreign domestic workers"},"content":{"rendered":"
The South Korean Ministry of Labor <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> a pilot program to employ approximately 100 foreign domestic workers later this year. These workers, mainly from the Philippines and other countries, will be hired through state-authorized employment agencies and provided with E-9 visas. They will be expected to carry out housekeeping and childcare tasks for at least six months, with priority given to working couples, single-parent families, or households with pregnant women. A key part of the program\u2019s intent is to alleviate the shortage of domestic helpers, aid women in continuing their careers and address the country\u2019s low birth rate. The workers will receive remuneration equivalent to the legal minimum wage, mirroring the standard compensation for local employees.<\/span><\/p>\n Before entering the country, these foreign workers will undergo comprehensive screening, including checks on their career history, criminal records and Korean or English language proficiency. Those with criminal records, mental health, or drug-related issues will not be considered. Upon acceptance, they will receive training in Korean language, culture and labor laws, as well as in child abuse prevention and safety regulations. After assessing the outcome of the pilot project, the government plans to officially launch the service in the latter half of 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Despite the labor ministry\u2019s announcement of a pilot program to employ approximately 100 foreign domestic workers, it is doubtful the initiative will boost the country\u2019s declining birth rate and enable women to maintain their careers. Although the pilot program states that foreign domestic workers will be paid at least the legal minimum wage, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who <\/span>proposed<\/span><\/a> a similar initiative in September, continues to <\/span>argue<\/span><\/a> for employing foreign nannies below the national minimum wage. If Oh\u2019s views gain traction with voters, the pilot program might fail to launch as foreign workers seek employment elsewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n The employment of foreign domestic workers also does not address the issue of child-rearing costs. South Korea is <\/span>the most expensive country<\/span><\/a> in the world to raise a child, according to Jefferies Financial Group, a U.S. investment bank. The costs of raising a child in South Korea are estimated to be 7.79 times the per-capita gross domestic product. A significant proportion of these costs originate from the prevalent practice of sending children to privately run cram schools.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, the Global Gender Gap Report, published in July 2022, <\/span>ranked<\/span><\/a> South Korea 99th out of 146 countries in its gender gap ranking, revealing a significant disparity between genders. A rise in <\/span>sexual assault<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>femicide<\/span><\/a> cases and the often <\/span>overly<\/span><\/a> lenient<\/span><\/a> sentences<\/span><\/a> imposed on perpetrators have resulted in a <\/span>crisis<\/span><\/a> for women in the country. The pilot program to employ foreign domestic workers falls short of addressing these larger, systemic issues that significantly impact the country\u2019s birth rate and the continuing professional development of its women.<\/span><\/p>\n